Accidents and Injury....A Landlords liability?

Muggy Dev

My family and I are preparing to leave the country for one year and will let our home for that period.Can anyone advise me as to what our exposure is in the event of a tenant accidently injuring themselves on our property?

The two letting agents I have spoken to so far are ignorant of any legal implication but it occurs to me that if a person in this context can sue a shop or business,why not a landlord.

Any advice welcome.

haz

Your insurer will advise you free of charge whether you are covered under the existing policy or need to pay a higher premium for suitable cover. It is better to put the question directly in addition to trying to understand the exclusions in the policy document. The fairly ordinary cover I have would not cover me for a tenant.

Muggy Dev

Thanks haz.I'll give Hibernian a shout.

Gobán Saor

I would have thought that the tenant as "occupier" assumes the burden of occupier's liability for injuries to third parties? Obviously, one can't sue oneself.

However, there might be a little grey area regarding premises which are let on a furnished basis. Items which dont form part of the "fixtures and fittings" remain the property of the landlord and thus could conceivably generate a liability. Say, eg, a bed collapsed or a negligently wired appliance delivered an electric shock. This would normally be covered under the contents insurance policy. Apartment landlords, in particular, might find themselves exposed as the buildings policy is normally part of the service charge and there is a temptation to assume the occupiers liability part of this covers contents too. It probably doesn't.