As a landlord you should be aware of your legal obligations to provide safe premises for your tenants.

Landlords should not assume that the lease gives them protection from liability for what happens to the tenant while in occupation.

The risk of possible litigation if injury and/or theft were deemed to be the result of a landlord failing in his duty of care to provide premises that were as safe for occupation as normal actions could provide  (except for defects which could not reasonably be discovered) - even though the negligence was committed by third parties.

So what can a landlord do to protect himself?

• Be vigilant and find out what is happening at your property.
• Have the property inspected regularly. Check the structure, water pipes, wiring, paths, etc.
• Maintain adequate public risk insurance and make sure there are no exclusions to the policy if you want to make a claim.
• Before purchasing, arrange for a written inspection by a qualified professional. This may avoid the expensive repairs required to make the premises safe for tenants.