Renters Insurance Can Help Ward Off the Potty Monster

Leaky plumbing, overflows do the most damage in New York apartments

Thieves. Hurricanes. Fire.

They’re all scary.

But the New York City apartment dweller’s most fearsome enemy may be … the toilet.

Toilet overflows are common in New York City apartment buildings, which often have aging, inadequate or corroded plumbing. When the dank water from an upstairs neighbor’s john starts to seep through your ceiling, you’ll want some serious reassurances that your life has not just turned into No. 2.

Renters insurance can provide that reassurance. For as little as $10 to $20 a month, you can get a policy that will pay to replace any belongings ruined in an overflow. Some policies will also cover your living expenses while your unit is restored to livable conditions.

“Life isn’t always pleasant,” Gotham Brokerage president Jeff Schneider says. “When it rains, it pours, and it’s good to have somebody standing by you with an umbrella.”

A renters insurance policy also protects you if the leaky pipe or overflowing toilet is in your unit — and your downstairs neighbor suddenly finds himself living in a sewer because of your apartment’s leak. Liability coverage means that if your neighbor sues, your insurance company will make sure that your toilet’s failure hasn’t left you bankrupt.

In the 50 years Gotham Brokerage has been in business, we’ve seen less theft and loss from fire. Bad plumbing, however, is a consistent villain because of the city’s aging housing stock — and one that people often overlook until a leak starts to ruin their belongings.

We’re a family-owned business with lots of experience helping New Yorkers find property insurance, so let us help. We work with all the major insurers in New York and can help find a policy that will keep you covered even when disaster starts to seep into your life. We can find you coverage fast, too — in as little as 20 minutes.

Don’t let the toilet win. Give us a call at (212) 406-7300.