Owning a property should be about safety rather than money

Most people who have become landlords did so because they wanted a job they could be successful at. With apartments abound here in New York City, becoming a landlord is sometimes considered an easy way to make money while providing a service to fellow residents.

But as so many of our more frequent readers know, there is more to being a landlord than just collecting rent and turning a profit. Being a landlord requires considerable attention to the needs of residents and the property itself. If a hazard presents itself, it is the landlord’s job to fix the issue before it leads to damages, injury or even death. Failing to do so, can leave a landlord liable for negligence.

As you may or may not know, state law requires landlords to maintain their property to ensure that it is in safe working order. Whether this means replacing the locks on the front doors after a break in or simply placing the right warning signs in pool areas, no safety hazard is too small to warrant attention from a property owner.

As we explained, a landlord who ignores safety hazards is considered negligent in the eyes of the law. As negligence is the grounds for a premises liability case, residents who have been injured on the property can seek compensation from the landlord with the help of an attorney.

It’s worth pointing out that serious injuries like slips and falls are not the only accidents that can lead to compensation. An accidental drowning or other instances of wrongful death can lead to compensation as well, provided negligence was a factor. In these cases, legal help is also advised as litigation can be lengthy and complex depending on the facts of the case.