What a tenant can do right away
You probably do not control the building shutoff, but you control a lot of what happens in the first hour.
Get to safety
Water near outlets, a space heater or a power strip on the floor is a shock risk. Do not wade through water to unplug anything. If you cannot safely reach your breaker, step outside and call the landlord or manager. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or you see sparking.
Tell the landlord or manager in writing
Call or text, then follow up by email or through the tenant portal with the time and what you see. Ask them to shut off the source and confirm when it is off.
Lift and move belongings
Get electronics, documents, bedding and clothes up off the floor and out of the wettest room. Furniture legs can sit on foil or plastic lids to keep stains from wicking up.
Photograph everything
Take wide shots and close-ups of ceilings, walls, floors and each damaged item before you move or toss it.
Call your renters insurer
The building owner's policy generally covers the building itself, not your belongings. Your renters policy is usually what helps with personal property and, sometimes, temporary housing.
Why garden units take the worst of it
In Capitol Hill, Uptown, Baker and other older neighborhoods, many brick walk-ups and converted Victorians have units partly below grade with small windows set high in the wall. Water from any unit above follows gravity down through floor cavities, along plumbing chases and down stairwells. It often shows up last in the garden unit, after it has already soaked the framing above.
These spaces also dry more slowly. Small windows limit airflow, concrete or masonry walls hold moisture, and carpet laid over a slab can keep water trapped against the floor for days. That makes prompt extraction and proper dehumidification more important here than in an upper unit.
Older buildings may also have materials that need care before they are disturbed, such as old floor tile or pipe insulation. Tear-out decisions belong to the owner and their contractor, who should test suspect materials first.
Your tenant record
Questions to ask the landlord or manager
- Who is drying the unit, and when will they start?
- Will wet carpet and pad be removed or dried in place?
- Will moisture readings be shared so I know when it is dry?
- Is the unit safe to sleep in while equipment is running?
- Has the plumbing been repaired, and could the same pipe fail again?
General information for Denver, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.