Definition : Insurance - Depreciation

A co-owner accidentally broke down the garage door with his vehicle. This needs to be changed completely. His insurer offers to compensate us only partially. This one offers us to pay 90% of the bill because of the depreciation. Question: Are we required to accept this proposal? Answer: Technically yes. The basis of a claim for compensation as a result of damage caused by a co-owner to the common or private parts is civil liability, which may be "contractual", in the event of a breach of an obligation contained in a contract (for example: the declaration of co-ownership), or "extra-contractual" if the fault alleged is the breach of an obligation provided for by law generally governing relations between individuals.

After a water damage, the ultimate goal of the syndicate and its co-owners: to find themselves in the same situation as they were in before the disaster took place. Due to its legal structure, the rehabilitation of common and private portions can be particularly complex in a divided co-ownership. Therefore, it should be taken care of by a qualified entrepreneur in the field. Situations vary from claim to claim, depending on the parts of the building affected, the extent of the damage and the source of the water, which may be clean or contaminated. This stage usually consists of four phases: 1) Emergency work, 2) Damage assessment 3) Compensation 4) Rehabilitation work.

A co-owner may be liable to the syndicate, the other co-owners and the occupants of the immovable. As stated in Article 1457 of the Civil Code of Québec, every person has a duty not to harm others. As a co-owner, you must be careful and abide to the appropriate rules of conduct in accordance with the context and circumstances. Otherwise, you engage your civil liability and are required to remedy (financially third parties for moral or property damage and  personal injury.Therefore, co-owners must take out civil liability insurance covering in particular claims arising from their private portion.