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: The landlords said, in sworn statements, that they thought the dog had been destroyed after the first incident. The court ruled that this reasonable belief meant that they had no duty to  take further action. 43 Whether other courts would let a landlord off the  hook in similar circumstances is questionable; most courts hold landlords  liable for knowing about conditions (including the presence of a dangerous  dog) on their property. Power to remove the dog. Obviously, it wouldn't be fair to hold a landlord responsible for a dog he is powerless to control or have removed. For  example, say a landlord buys a building that is already occupied by a tenant  who has both a one-year lease and a dangerous dog. The landlord probably  won't be liable for any injuries the dog causes, because the landlord may  not be able to order the dog removed. But if the tenant has a month-to-month rental agreement, which can be terminated on 30 days' notice, the  landlord who does nothing after finding out the tenant has a dangerous dog
may be liable if the dog later hurts someone. ( Remember, however, that  local laws may restrict a landlord's ability to terminate a rental agreement.)