FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Fargo couple is questioning local apartment renters insurance policies, after they were displaced from recent flooding.

As a string of storms took over the Valley on June 20, 2025, Elijah Lieberman and their partner took cover in their two-bedroom apartment. Within minutes, they realized rain was pouring in.

“We suddenly realized we were sitting in water. It had flooded wall-to-wall,” Elijah said.

According to Elijah, a malfunctioning sump pump system flooded their entire unit. They said wall-to-wall water damage ruined their carpets, bed, clothes, and more.

With almost everything left damaged, their only option was to move out. A 6-month lease remained, but they said their property management company, Silver Leaf, only offered a new, 12-month lease in a new building, which included a price increase.

A negotiation was made – under these new conditions.

“They said, fine, you can do 6-months but now you have to spend $75 more dollars in your rent each month,” said Lieberman.

They’re now paying a lot more, for a lot less.

They said their new unit is significantly smaller and doesn’t feature the same amenities, like a dishwasher.

“I don’t see how this should’ve cost us any money? You put us in a lesser unit, with lesser amenities, for more money? We shouldn’t have to pay extra money for something that wasn’t even our fault… this isn’t fair,” the couple said.

They had just days to remove all of their belongings from the old unit. They both have health problems, and took to social media asking for help.

While attempting to move, the couple tried to determine if their assumed renters insurance covered the water damage.

Upon moving in, they said they were given instructions to enroll in a property damage liability program, costing them $14 dollars a month.

“The day after the flood, we looked at the flyer that came in our lease and it says $10,000 dollars from displacement from water damage. We saw that and thought, oh good, we’re going to be all set then!” Elijah said.

The provided flyer is from a program called Foxen. It features bold writing that lists what the program covers for property damage.

In very small print, it states the Foxen program is actually just a waiver, and not a renters insurance policy. It only covers damage caused by resident negligence.

A policy misunderstood, given by the property management.

Elijah said, “Well, what are your policies then? They never told us, hey, when this happens, these are the steps we take. Nobody ever explained to us what we were supposed to do.”

Valley News Live reached out to Silver Leaf Property Management to explain some of these fine print policies, but have yet to receive a response.

The Fargo couple is now starting from scratch, and building back up what they can afford.

They said, “This is just really sad. We don’t know what to do.”

They’re being assisted by local organizations like the Freedom Resource Center to help get them back on their feet.

Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.