Title: Dog Law :: Landlords and Dogs > Landlord Liability for Tenants' Dogs :: DogLaw.HugPug.com
Headings: 
Landlord Liability for Tenants' Dogs
Knowing About and Having Power to Remove the Dog
INJURIES OFF THE LANDLORD'S PROPERTY
Harboring a Tenant's Dog
Endnotes

Content: In most circumstances, a landlord isn't liable for injuries inflicted by a  tenant's dog. Just leasing premises to a tenant with a dog usually isn't  enough, by itself, to make a landlord legally responsible for a tenant's dog. For example, if a tenant's apparently friendly dog bites someone, the  landlord isn't liable for the injury. 33
In general, when a tenant's dog injures someone, courts hold the  landlord liable only if the landlord: knew the dog was dangerous and could have had the dog removed; or
"harbored" or "kept" the tenant's dog - that is, cared for or had some  control over the dog. These factors are discussed just below. They apply to homeowners'  associations, which control common areas in their developments, as well as  traditional landlords. 34
If a landlord is found financially liable, the liability coverage of the  building owner's insurance may cover the loss. ( Liability insurance is  discussed in Dog Bites .)