Property and building owners are legally required to maintain safe premises to minimize the risk of injuries to their occupants, workers and others. When it comes to landlord-tenant relationships, however, this responsibility can fall on the landlord, meaning that a landlord can be held liable for failing to provide safe rentals to tenants.
Here’s a look at what renters should be aware of when it comes to their rights and their landlords’ responsibilities.
Here’s What Renter’s Should Know
An experienced Denver premises liability lawyer explains when renters may have grounds to sue landlords. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
Renters may have a premises liability claim against their landlords (i.e., may be able to sue landlords for compensation) when landlords have:
- Failed to make essential repairs to a unit or building – As the features of a rental or the building/property within which the rental is situated break or wear down, it’s up to the landlord to fix these features. If landlords fail to do so after being notified of the need for a fix, renters can sue landlords in the event the broken feature ends up injuring them.
- Ignored obvious signs of wear/disrepair – Landlords are required to repair features that a “reasonable” person in a similar (or the same) situation would notice and repair. So, if landlords are not told of a specific broken or deteriorating feature but should have been aware of it (because any reasonable person in their situation would have been), this could serve as another potential grounds for suing a landlord in the event that the feature in question causes harm to a renter.
- Failed to remove toxic substances from a rental/property – While landlords are required to disclose when rentals contain lead paint, they may also obligated to remove other toxic substances from rentals. Should landlords fail to abide by this requirement, they can again be sued if the presence of the toxin causes harm to renters.
The Bottom Line about Suing Landlords: Talk to a Lawyer First
When it comes to suing landlords for unsafe rental conditions, the bottom line is that:
- There can be various grounds for premises liability cases, depending on renters’ situations.
- Speaking to an attorney first can be crucial to understanding your best options for financial recovery.
Denver Premises Liability Lawyer at Cederberg Law
If you or a loved one has been injured on a dangerous or poorly maintained property, contact a Denver premises liability lawyer at Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
At Cederberg Law, you will not be handed off to a paralegal or assistant. You will receive personal attention and professional service from an experienced lawyer who cares about you and who is dedicated to providing you with superior legal services at every stage of your case.
