Landlord Premises Liability, Tenants’ Rights, and You
Did you know Washington DC leads the nation in renter-occupied homes? In 2024, 58.9% of all DC residents rented their homes. This vastly outstrips the national average of a 36% renter occupancy rate. This phenomenon is easily explained by simple applied economics as well as the unique position of DC as the seat of America’s federal government. People enter and leave this area regularly as new representatives are elected to congress and government policies and priorities shift accordingly. This creates a steady demand for housing while the supply of housing remains relatively static. This also means that inhabitants of our region interact with landlords at a higher rate than the national average. Indeed, DC’s local news outlets and social media channels regularly discuss the best and worst places to rent in the District. Today, we at Malloy Law are adding our input with a brief discussion of landlord premises liability.
Landlord Premises Liability and Negligence
In an ideal world, a landlord keeps their property in prime condition in order to raise its market value and maximize its attractiveness to tenants. In reality, however, this is not always the case. This is especially true in fast moving rental markets like the broader DC metro area where demand is almost never an issue and new arrivals to the region may be forced to rent without due diligence. Under these circumstances, unscrupulous landlords may seek to increase their profits by neglecting regular maintenance and letting complaints go unanswered.
However, landlords cannot behave this way with impunity. Landlords have an obligation to keep their properties safe for habitation by their tenants and their tenants’ guests. This legally qualifies as a “duty of care,” which means failure to maintain their property up to a minimum standard could invite a landlord premises liability lawsuit in the case of injury. Landlords are obligated to:
- Maintain the safety and integrity of common areas, such as halls, staircases, laundry rooms, elevators, etc.
- Be aware of any dangers on the premises and inform tenants and visitors of their presence.
- Comply with all local ordinances, such as requirements for running water and heating in winter.
Know Your (Tenants’) Rights
Of course, incurring an injury due to unacceptable living conditions and suffering through a lengthy recovery and legal proceedings is not the ideal way to seek an improvement to those living conditions. Furthermore, many disreputable landlords will spend the absolute minimum amount of money and effort to keep their property just within the bounds of their duty of care. This means that many unpleasant living situations are still technically legal. These landlords are a discredit to their profession and often the target of significant ire from their tenants, but redress of grievances likely will not come from a personal injury lawsuit.
Anyone renting a home should endeavor to inform themselves of their state and municipal laws pertaining to tenants’ rights. Maryland, DC, and Virginia all have well-developed legal infrastructure pertaining to disputes between landlords and tenants. Furthermore, tenant advocacy organizations such as the Montgomery County Renter’s Alliance or the DC Office of the Tenant Advocate can provide specialized advice and assistance to renters caught in difficult situations.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured due to landlord negligence, Malloy Law Offices can help. Our experienced and diverse team of attorneys is home to Maryland, DC, and Virginia’s personal injury specialists. We’ll seek the maximum possible compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, emotional trauma, and physical pain. Our dedicated staff is standing by twenty-four hours a day to take your call. Contact Malloy Law Offices today and let’s win your case.
