Because Your Future Matters

Is a property owner required to provide security at a building?

On Behalf of | May 4, 2023 | Personal Injury |

No one wants to become the victim of a violent crime. So, if you’ve become aware of dangerous activities in or around your neighborhood, you might wonder: Does my landlord need to provide security? You might also wonder what will happen if your landlord doesn’t provide security and someone gets hurt.

A landowner is a property owner who has a duty to keep a property safe for visitors. Does this mean that the property owner has an obligation to provide security on the property?

Premises liability and negligent security

Under the premises liability laws in New Mexico, property owners have a duty to keep their properties reasonably safe. If they breach that duty and that breach results in an injury, the owner might be liable.

Under these laws, as a property owner, the landlord may have a duty to provide reasonable security measures for a property. If a tenant gets robbed or assaulted and can prove the property should have had better security, they might be able to sue the landlord for a personal injury claim.

A history of danger can put landlords on notice

If a landlord learns that a crime occurred on their property, this can increase a property owner’s obligation to add security. When a tenant reports criminal activity to their landlord, this puts the landlord on notice that there is a problem. The idea of “notice” is an important part of any negligent security claim. It suggests the owner should reasonably be aware of the need for security.

Accordingly, a landlord should take any incident reports seriously and make efforts to address the issues. One idea is to install extra security measures. These could include adding exterior lights, securing entrances or installing security cameras.

As property owners, landlords are subject to premises liability laws

As property owners, landlords have a duty to keep their properties safe for tenants and visitors. When there are reports of criminal activity on the property, this can increase the landlord’s duty.

Adding safety and security measures protects tenants and visitors from theft, assault and personal injury. Conversely, landlords may make themselves liable if they choose not to adopt additional safety precautions after they learn about dangerous activities. In these cases, tenants and visitors who suffer from foreseeable injuries have the right to sue. It will be easier to hold the landlord responsible if another crime occurs.