Title: Premises Liability Law | Justia
Headings: Premises Liability
Premises Liability
Limitations on Recovering for Premises Liability

Content: Usually, a landlord is not responsible for the injuries of a tenant's guest because the tenant is presumed to be in control of the condition of the property. However, there are exceptions, such as for latent defects, which are concealed and dangerous conditions already existing when the tenant takes possession of the property. Another exception occurs when a landlord undertakes repairs for a tenant. The repairs must be performed in a non-negligent manner. Different states follow different rules about who may recover for premises liability and under which conditions. Some states focus on the status of the person visiting the property to determine whether liability is appropriate. The status of a visitor in those states is usually invitee, licensee, or trespasser. An invitee is somebody invited onto a property for a commercial purpose, such as a customer at a mall. A social guest or licensee is also present on the property at the invitation or by permission of the property owner or occupant. For invitees and licensees, the invitation is an implied promise that it is safe to be on the property.