A landlord’s duty of reasonable security
Landlords are not automatically responsible for every crime, but they do owe a duty to take reasonable security measures — especially when they know of a danger. Liability typically turns on whether the shooting was foreseeable and whether the landlord ignored obvious, fixable security problems.
Common landlord failures
- Broken locks, doors, gates, or fencing left unrepaired
- Burned-out lighting in common areas and parking
- Failure to act on prior crimes or tenant complaints
- Promised security measures that were never provided
What to do
Document what you can and speak with a lawyer quickly, before surveillance footage and records are lost. A free case review will tell you whether your landlord may be liable. No fee unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Does it matter if I reported the problem before?
It helps. Prior complaints about broken locks, lighting, or crime show the landlord knew of the danger and failed to act — strong evidence in a negligent-security case.
Is a landlord different from an apartment complex?
The same negligent-security principles apply whether you rent from an individual landlord or a large complex. What matters is the duty to provide reasonable security and whether it was breached.