Title: Tenant Safety and Landlord Liability | Justia
Headings: Landlord's Liability for Tenant Safety
Landlord's Liability for Tenant Safety
Duty to Repair and Maintain
Landlord Liability for Crime
Duty to Accommodate Disabled Tenants
Methods of Limiting Landlord Liability
Insurance

Content: Costly measures such as these can be much smaller than the costs resulting from crimes on the rental premises. Individuals injured or affected by a crime, such as the operations of drug dealers, may sue the landlord under the theory that the rental property is a public nuisance. This legal doctrine involves a threat to public safety or morals, which poses an inconvenience to the rights of the community. If the landlord allows illegal activity to continue, police or federal authorities may assess fines. Duty to Accommodate Disabled Tenants
Landlords must allow disabled tenants to make changes necessary to their full enjoyment of the premises. Housing discrimination varies in form and applies to non-disabled tenants as well. But particularly for disabled tenants, the landlord must reasonably accommodate their needs. An example might include renting to a disabled tenant with a seeing-eye dog, thereby making an exception to the no-pets allowed policy. However, if an accommodation is unduly expensive or burdensome, the landlord is not required to make changes. Methods of Limiting Landlord Liability
Several precautionary steps can help landlords limit their liability in any lawsuit filed against them for tenants’ illegal activity.