Slip and fall in apartment common areas

The landlord answers for common areas

You fell where you live, and now you are hurting. A slip and fall in apartment common areas is the landlord's responsibility. That covers stairs, halls, entrances, laundry rooms and parking lots.

Inside your own unit, the rule is narrower. There, the landlord answers for repairs you asked for and they did not make.

Who controls the spot

The landlord must keep common areas safe. A broken stair light, a loose railing or ice on the building's walk is on them.

Inside your unit, you control daily conditions, such as a wet bathroom floor. Your own duties as a tenant are listed in HUD's tenant guide too.

Repairs you asked for

HUD's guide for tenants lists the right to have repairs made in a timely manner, upon request. A written repair request with a date is strong proof the landlord knew.

Requests sent by email or a tenant portal leave a dated record. Save a copy of each one. Proving a slip and fall case starts with records like these.

What to do now

First, call us for a free case review. Then follow the steps after a fall: photograph the spot and get treated the same day. Write down when and where you fell.

Find your old repair requests and save them. Note any neighbors who complained about the same problem. Your lawyer gets the building's maintenance records and past complaints, and handles the landlord's insurer.

What a slip and fall in apartment buildings is worth

Apartment falls are valued like any other fall. Bills, lost pay and pain count, less your share of fault. The settlement calculator applies your state's rule.

Maria fell on a torn entrance mat in Virginia. She had emailed the office about that mat twice. In Virginia, any fault on her part can end the claim, so her emails carry real weight.