Premises Liability for Rental Properties in California

Who Is Liable for Injuries on a Rental Property?

Renting a newly restored downtown Los Angeles loft is a genuinely exciting thing. But what happens if something goes wrong in an older building? What if an elevator breaks down and causes serious injuries? For the most part, any injuries or wrongful deaths that occur in rental property may subject a property owner to liability. 

However, a renter will not always have the right to file a premises liability claim. In the sections below, our knowledgeable premises liability attorneys will discuss premises liability as it relates to rental property. 

If you have suffered any injuries on rental property, our Los Angeles legal team at West Coast Trial Lawyers are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about liability claims and available damages. 

To schedule a free consultation at our Los Angeles personal injury law firm, please contact us by calling (213) 927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form. 

Premises Liability Law

All property owners are required by law to maintain their rental properties in reasonably safe conditions. Exactly how much a landlord is required to do will depend on the visitor. Visitors to a property are invitees, licensees, or trespassers. 

• Invitees are entitled to the greatest duty of care as they have been invited onto the property by the renters. 
• A licensee is still owed a duty of care, but not as much as an invitee is. A licensee enters a property for their own reasons, for example, a utility worker or a salesperson. Nevertheless, they are given permission to enter the premises. 
• A trespasser has no reason or right to be on a property and is owed no duty of care whatsoever, unless he or she is a child. 

A tenant is generally thought of as an invitee. A landlord owes their renters the highest duty of care. This means regularly checking their property for obvious and not so obvious dangers, repairing damage as it occurs, and if necessary, posting adequate signage to warn residents about any potential hazards. Furthermore, a landlord must address slip and fall risks, damaged structures, security, and more. 

In essence, a property owner who fails to fulfill their duty of care to a renter — and this negligence causes harm or death — may be held liable for any losses sustained. 

Property Owners and Liability for Premises Liability Accidents

It is crucial that you revise your rental agreement for any clauses that attempt to shield the landlord from liability after a premises liability accident. However, the inclusion of such language is not enough to protect a landlord from liability, especially when he or she was negligent regarding their legally mandated duty of care. Regardless of such exclusionary clauses, a renter is still entitled to file a premises liability claim in the event of an injury. 

You will, however, need to prove that the landlord was guilty of negligence in order to recover damages for your losses. For starters, this means proving that you were an invitee and that your landlord did not fulfill his or her legal duty of care to you. 

Contact Us to Find Out How We Can Help

If you have sustained injuries in Los Angeles as a result of a premises liability accident, our expert Los Angeles premises liability attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. 

Contact us today by calling (213) 927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable, caring, and compassionate legal team.