Being a landlord comes with significant responsibilities, including keeping the property safe and livable. Failing to fulfill this legal obligation can be negligence, leading to severe repercussions. If a tenant sustains preventable injuries caused by dangerous conditions left unrepaired within the premises, the first person to receive blame could be the landlord.
Still, not all tenant injuries can be blamed on the landlord. Determining fault can depend on the incident and the details leading up to it. A tenant could go after the landlord for negligence if the following scenarios exist during the accident:
The injury happened because of property defects, which have existed since before the tenancy.
Dangerous conditions exist in shared areas of the property, such as hallways or stairs.
The landlord is aware of these threats within the property, including sanitary issues that might go against building codes.
The tenant’s lease had terms indicating that the landlord would repair the defects, but they failed to deliver.
The landlord repaired the defects but did not complete them correctly, causing further risks that caused the tenant’s accident.
However, keep in mind that grounds to file a suit for the tenant’s injury can vary based on the circumstances. If the tenant is partly at fault, it might affect their claim’s validity.
Learning more about what to do next
If you are a tenant with an injury caused by your landlord’s negligence, you may be able to take legal action appropriately. Additionally, seeking legal counsel before initiating the relevant process can be helpful. Legal guidance could help you learn more about whether it is a valid approach and if there are any issues you need to address before taking the next step.
