This year’s FAA Inspire conference didn’t just inspire—it brought out some of the most jaw-dropping, head-shaking, "How is that even possible?" resident-caused accident stories we’ve ever heard. At TheGuarantors, we understand the challenges of unexpected resident surprises. That’s why we asked our friends at FAA Inspire to share their wildest stories—for a chance to win $100.
From kitchen disasters straight out of a movie to bathtubs turning into indoor pools, the FAA community shared stories that had us laughing and sometimes cringing. Here’s a roundup of the most unforgettable resident-caused accidents shared at FAA Inspire 2024:
The dinner disaster
In one of our communities lived a spirited woman in her early sixties who had recently moved in. She loved to cook and one evening as she was making dinner with the stew gently bubbling on the stove, she realized she had forgotten a key ingredient. Determined to make the dish perfect, she grabbed her purse, intending to make a quick trip to the store.
As she hurried down the hallway, she exchanged pleasantries with the maintenance guy, who was busy fixing a light. Unbeknownst to her, this brief interaction would later become a pivotal point in a tale of misfortune. She didn't anticipate the long lines at the grocery store. Minutes turned into half an hour as she navigated the crowded aisles and waited to check out. By the time she returned, she was greeted by a cacophony of sirens and the acrid smell of smoke. Her heart sank as she saw firefighters huddled around her apartment, dousing flames that licked the kitchen’s ceiling.
The source of the blaze was immediately apparent. In her haste, she had left the stove on, and the unattended stew had boiled over, igniting a small fire that quickly spread. The apartment was filled with smoke, and the once-cozy kitchen now bore the charred remains of her cooking endeavor.
In the aftermath, her emotions oscillated between guilt and indignation. It was then that she found a convenient target for her frustration: the stove and the building. She argued vehemently that the stove should have had a safety feature to turn off automatically, especially in modern apartments like hers. Her lament echoed through the building, as she insisted that the fault lay not with her negligence but with the absence of adequate safety measures. In the end, the incident served as a reminder of the delicate balance between reliance on technology and the necessity of personal accountability.
The phantom flood
I had a resident move out of a unit and the next day we found out that the water was left running in the sinks and tubs and the entire apartment flooded. However, after the resident moved out, my maintenance team walked the unit and the water wasn't running, so to this day it remains a mystery as to how the water was turned on in the entire apartment and flooded the entire space.
The tale of two roommates
I had two roommates move out of one of our units. One of the roommate's bedrooms was left immaculately clean. The other, however, was left with almost the entire carpet stained (from drinks, food, and even urine), the walls covered in dry food and tons of nose snot (read: boogers), and stale garbage (half-eaten Pringle boxes, old sushi, you name it) all over the floor.
Why we’re talking about these stories
While these stories gave us all a good laugh, they’re also a reminder of just how unpredictable resident-caused accidents can be. As owners and operators, you know the importance of being prepared for anything—because even the craziest stories come with real consequences (and costs).
That’s where TheGuarantors comes in. Our tenant liability waiver offers up to $500K per unit in tenant liability coverage, protecting your property and minimizing the risks of unpredictable renter-caused accidents. With our coverage, you’re prepared for the unexpected—so when accidents happen, you’re ready.
Let’s keep the stories going
Do you have a crazy resident story? Share it with us! And if you’re ready to learn more about how TheGuarantors can help protect your properties from the resident-caused accidents, speak with our team today.
