After months of fighting to remove tenants who she says wrecked her family home, Thamara DeVries says her insurance provider is refusing to cover most of the damage left behind. ContributedArticle contentAfter months of fighting to remove tenants who she says wrecked her family home, a P.E.I. landlord says her insurance provider is refusing to cover most of the damage left behind.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentEarlier this year, Thamara DeVries was struggling to evict tenants who caused damage to her house, but she eventually won her case through the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC), and the tenants were removed.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentNow she’s in a new battle, this time with her insurer, P.E.I. Mutual Insurance.Article contentMultiple claimsArticle contentDeVries said when she submitted her claim, the insurance company told her they won’t be covering the damages to her rental home. She said the company explained that there were multiple “occurrences” during the tenants’ stay, and each one would need to be a separate claim.Article contentEvery claim would require a $10,000 deductible.Article content After nearly half a year of tenant disputes and damage, Thamara DeVries said the entire experience has been disheartening, especially with her insurance company refusing to cover the cost of damage. ContributedArticle contentShe also told The Guardian that when she brought up her ruined flooring, which she said cost more than $10,000 to fix because of cat urine, the company said it wasn’t covered because it wasn’t done on purpose and couldn’t be proven as vandalism.Article contentShe said she responded by explaining the tenants had barricaded themselves in the house and animals likely couldn’t go outside to pee, but the company said it still wasn’t clear why the tenants blocked the doors and that wasn’t enough to call it vandalism.Article contentArticle content“When I asked what the definition of vandalism is, they said, ‘Well, we can’t describe vandalism because it’s something that you know it when you see it,’ ” she said.Article contentShe said the adjuster did agree that some of the damage, like broken window screens, damaged furniture and knives found stuck in doorframes, could be considered vandalism but there would be no payout because they’re all under the $10,000 deductible.Article contentP.E.I. Mutual responseArticle contentIn an email to The Guardian, P.E.I. Mutual Insurance said it cannot confirm or comment on the details of any individual claim, whether closed or still active.Article content“Generally speaking, however, we understand that insurance claims often arise from difficult and emotional situations and are committed to treating all policyholders with fairness, respect, and compassion,” the email said.Article content“As a P.E.I.-based mutual insurance company, we strive to achieve a high degree of responsiveness to our members and encourage any policyholder with questions about their claim to reach out to us directly.”
P.E.I. landlord says insurance company refuses to pay for rental damage
