Premises Liability: The Information Is Out There

It has never been easier to be a landlord. Before the advent of the internet, landlords were on an island when it came to making sure they were doing what was right for their tenants. There was a lot of guesswork involved, and that guesswork could have tragic implications when an accident occurred because the landlord had no idea how to make the premises safe. Thankfully, there are now thousands of websites a landlord can visit to make sure they are keeping things as safe as possible.

Though some people try to make it sound difficult to manage properties, it really isn’t. The information is out there. Landlord obligations are actually very simple, and include:

• Providing a safe and secure environment, including working doors, windows, and locks
• Changing locks between tenants to ensure access is limited to designated individuals
• Maintaining proper upkeep of outdoor areas and staircases and that exteriors are properly lit
• Responding to repair requests quickly and appropriately

A landlord can go above and beyond, including utilizing equipment such as cameras and intercoms for walk-ups and apartment buildings. Landlords should also screen other potential tenants of nearby apartments to make sure they are not allowing unsafe people to move in. Though not all these steps are required, there is a bare minimum expectation when it comes to safety and security for tenants.

Because it is so easy to be a landlord, it is particularly tragic when a tenant injury takes place that could have been easily prevented if the landlord had done their due diligence. Many landlords don’t care about negligence and premises liability, hoping that tenants will do their work for them.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to landlord negligence, please contact an attorney. A negligent landlord will not change their behavior until they are forced to. After all, it just isn’t that hard to look up what is and isn’t safe, and it isn’t hard to find a qualified professional to fix those unsafe things.