Negligent Landlords in Florida

When you rent a house or an apartment, you expect that it will be maintained in a reasonably safe manner by your landlord. Under Florida Law, a landlord is required to keep its premises in a livable and safe condition. When a landlord neglects this duty, tenants and their guests can become seriously injured (including a slip or fall).

Landlord’s Duty

Landlords must maintain their rental properties and protect their tenants and their guests from harm caused by dangerous conditions on the property. Landlords must also abide by applicable housing codes. If a landlord learns about a dangerous condition or should be aware of a dangerous condition on the property, then the landlord has a duty to repair the condition in order to keep tenants and their guests safe.

Landlords are responsible for maintaining the properties they rent including:

• Leaking or unsafe roofs or ceilings
• Broken staircases or handrails
• Cracks or damage in walkways and sidewalks
• Proper locks and fencing around pool areas
• Torn or worn carpeting
• Broken or defective appliances
• Electrical problems
• Fire hazards

Tenant’s Duty

Landlords should be aware of any dangerous conditions in the common areas of a rental property. However, if there is a dangerous condition inside a rental unit, then the tenant should give the landlord notice of the condition. If there is a broken appliance or a leaky ceiling, a landlord would probably not be aware of it if not informed by the tenant. If there is a dangerous condition in your rental unit, be sure to notify your landlord in writing. Once informed, the landlord must then be given a reasonable amount of time to repair the condition.

Proving a Landlord’s Negligence

In order to legally prove that a landlord has been negligent, it must be shown that:

• It was the landlord’s duty to maintain the area of the premises where the accident occurred and that the landlord knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
• The landlord did not take reasonable steps to prevent the accident from happening by either repairing the dangerous condition or warning others that the condition existed
• The landlord’s negligence was the cause of the tenant’s or visitor’s injury.

Contact a Trusted Attorney

If you’ve been injured as the result of a landlord’s negligence, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact the trusted lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk online or call us at 1-800-538-4878 to schedule your free consultation.