Are Landlords responsible for Dog Bites? A Dog Bite Attorney Tells You the Truth!
Can a landlord be held legally responsible where their tenant’s dog bites or attacks another tenant or person on the landlord’s rental property? The answer is given to you by an experienced dog bite attorney.
As a landlord, allowing your tenants to have pets in the residential units results in additional obligations on the landlord. Landlords can potentially be held responsible (civilly liable) for damages if a person is bit or attacked by a tenant’s dog or other pet. Dogs can cause injury to persons and damage to personal property. Depending on the facts, a landlord can be held responsible to compensate a victim of a dog bite or attack under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, the Occupier’s Liability Act or on the basis of general negligence principles.
If a tenant is attacked or bit by another tenant’s dog, as a landlord, you need to take action to deal with the issue, usually by evicting the tenant at fault (the tenant who owns the dog) and/or taking other measures. You could contact the local by-law (animal control) and report the incident. When a landlord becomes aware of a danger, including the existence of a dog on the property that may bite someone, the landlord should take precautions to ensure the safety of everyone who enters in their property. Under the Occupier’s Liability Act, a landlord has a positive duty to ensure their property is safe for all users.
Get Free Advice from a Dog Bite Attorney
The action a landlord can take may be limited by the terms of a residential lease agreement, so consult a dog bite attorney.
Under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, dog owners and dog harbourers (landlords can be deemed to harbour a dog or dogs) can be held civilly liable to victims of dog bites or attacks.
If you are landlord or a dog bite victim, contact one of our dog bite attorney for a free consultation.
QTMG Personal Injury Lawyers – Dog Bite Injury Attorney: 613-315-4878 / 613-563-1131