Title: Criminal Acts and Activities: Landlord Liability FAQ | Nolo
Headings: Criminal Acts and Activities: Landlord Liability FAQ
Criminal Acts and Activities: Landlord Liability FAQ
Landlords have some degree of legal responsibility to protect their tenants from assailants, thieves, and fellow tenants.
Questions
How can a landlord limit responsibility for crime committed by strangers on the rental property?
What kind of legal trouble do landlords face from tenants who deal illegal drugs on the property?
How can a property owner avoid liability because of tenants who deal drugs or otherwise break the law?
What are the landlord's responsibilities for tenant safety and security?

Content: Asking tenants for their suggestions as part of an ongoing repair and maintenance system is also a good idea. Handle tenant complaints about dangerous situations, suspicious activities, or broken security items immediately. Failing to do this may saddle you with a higher level of legal liability should a tenant be injured by a criminal act after a relevant complaint is made. If additional security requires a rent hike, discuss the situation with your tenants. Many tenants will pay more for a safer place to live. While some of these measures may be costly, the money you spend today on effective crime-prevention measures may pale in comparison to the costs that could result from crime occurring on the premises. Settlements paid by landlords' insurance companies for horrific crimes such as rape and assault are typically in the hundreds of thousands of dollars—and jury awards are higher. Protecting Tenants From the Manager
Rental property owners should be particularly careful when hiring a property manager—the person who interacts with all tenants and has access to master keys. Landlords should scrupulously check a property manager's background to the fullest extent allowed by law, and closely supervise his or her job performance. A tenant who gets hurt or has property stolen or damaged by a manager could sue the property owner for failing to screen or supervise the manager properly.