In Raleigh, NC Can My Landlord Tell Me I Can’t Watch TV?

While we’re experts in Raleigh, NC Renters Insurance, not in the specifics of what landlords may and may not do, we’re also experts in common sense.  When we first heard this question, we had to do a double take because, on its face, it’s an odd question.  But this apparently really is a scenario that affects tenants in some apartments, so it’s worth addressing.

There are many concerns that go with living in an apartment.  You’re living close to other people, and everything you do has the potential to impact them.  That’s why Raleigh Renters Insurance is so important.  Your loss becomes your neighbor’s loss, and their kitchen fire becomes your apartment fire.  That’s why you need both liability and personal property coverage.  But can landlords make unreasonable requests?  Can a landlord tell you that you can’t watch TV?

Nope.

Generally speaking, you have the right to quiet enjoyment of the apartment.  So do you neighbors.  But you’re entitled to use your apartment and go about your daily life in a normal fashion.  Particularly during the day, you’re entitled to make reasonable living noises.  That includes watching TV.

Your landlord could tell you not to run the dishwasher after 10 PM if they wanted to.  Dishwashers are notorious for making noise that wakes up an entire apartment building.  But watching television is a normal life activity that you’re allowed to engage in.  The apartment is, in fact, yours for the term of the lease, not your landlord’s or your neighbor’s.  That means you can live your life in it.

But what happens if your neighbor claims that your television disturbs them so much that it has impacted their health and made them ill? What if they claim they’ve suffered a bodily injury loss and they now have weakness, fatigue, and panic attacks because of the disturbed sleep?  What would you do then?

Assuming that you’ve been watching television at a normal volume, this is clearly a frivolous claim.  That doesn’t matter. You still would need a defense, and the claim would still need to be paid if proven.  That’s where your Raleigh, NC Renters Insurance comes into play.  You would tender that claim to your insurer and advise them that someone is claiming they’ve suffered a loss as a result of your actions.

From there, your insurer investigates the claim.  Your insurer pays for your defense against the claim – it’s on their nickel, but it’s your attorney.  Your insurer will pay for you to be defended against the claim, and will make a settlement offer if appropriate.  In this situation, it’s probably not appropriate, but it’s not unheard of for small settlements to be issued because it’s less expensive than taking it to trial and proving that the claim is patently ridiculous.

Maybe your neighbor just wants a fast five grand and thinks this is the easiest way to get it.  As unfortunate as it is, such people do exist and insurance companies know it.  Most people wouldn’t go to the trouble for such a small amount of money, but your insurer has a great deal of practice at sniffing them out.  Either way, this why you have Raleigh, NC Renters Insurance.  It protects you from unexpected losses and claims, even the ones that seem to have no merit on their face.

To find out just how little it costs to be protected against losses, frivolous or otherwise, just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Raleigh renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!

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Photo Credit: Michael Coghlan TV CC BY 2.0