Landlord Negligence Lawyer in Kern County, CA
Landlords and property owners in California are legally required to keep rental properties reasonably safe. This duty applies to both the rental unit and the common areas of the property, including stairwells, parking lots, hallways, and laundry rooms.
Under California law, lease provisions generally do not shield landlords from liability for their own negligence, and a lease cannot waive a landlord’s legal duty to maintain safe rental property. When a tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a guest is injured because a landlord failed to correct a dangerous condition, a landlord negligence lawyer can help the injured person pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Chain | Cohn | Clark represents injured renters in Bakersfield and throughout Kern County.
A Landlord’s Legal Duty to Maintain Safe Property
California premises liability law requires landlords and property owners to exercise reasonable care in maintaining rental property. That duty includes inspecting for hazards, making timely repairs, warning tenants about known dangers, and complying with applicable building and safety codes.
Once a landlord knows, or reasonably should know, about a hazardous condition, they have a duty to take steps to correct it within an appropriate timeframe. Notice does not need to be given in writing; if a hazard is reported verbally, or if the hazard could be discovered during a reasonable inspection, that is often enough.
California’s Balcony and Stairway Inspection Law
California law requires owners of apartment buildings with three or more units to have balconies, decks, exterior stairways, and elevated walkways inspected by a licensed professional. Senate Bill 721 set a compliance deadline of January 1, 2026, with follow-up inspections required every six years.
When an inspection identifies deterioration, the owner must complete repairs within the provided timeline. A landlord who skips a required inspection, or who leaves identified hazards unrepaired, may face civil penalties. In a relevant injury claim, that failure can also serve as evidence that the landlord was negligent.
Negligent Security at Bakersfield Rental Properties
Where criminal activity is reasonably foreseeable, California law can require landlords to take reasonable security measures, such as ensuring the functionality of locks and gates, adequate lighting in parking lots and stairwells, and repairing broken access controls. When a tenant or guest is the victim of a crime because those measures were missing or broken, the landlord may share legal responsibility for the resulting injuries. If an attack proves fatal, surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim under specific circumstances.
Compensation Available in a Kern County Landlord Negligence Case
Depending on the facts of the case, an injured tenant or visitor may be entitled to recover compensation for medical care, including emergency treatment, hospital bills, physical therapy, and future medical needs. Compensation may also cover lost wages and reduced earning capacity, along with pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other relevant damages.
Insurance companies representing landlords and property management companies often dispute liability, and statements made by a tenant to an adjuster can be used to limit or deny a claim later. Before speaking with an insurance company, an injured tenant should discuss the case with a landlord negligence attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often, yes. If your injury resulted from a hazard that the landlord knew about, or reasonably should have discovered and repaired, you may have a premises liability claim. Whether you have a viable case depends on factors such as notice, the nature of the hazard, and how the injury occurred.
Potentially hazardous conditions include broken stairs, loose handrails, inadequate lighting, unsafe walkways, defective electrical systems, and negligent security, among others. Liability depends on whether the landlord failed to exercise reasonable care in maintaining the property.
In many cases, yes. Signing a lease does not generally prevent you from bringing a negligence claim against a landlord, because California law does not permit residential landlords to avoid responsibility for injuries caused by their own negligent maintenance. The enforceability of any lease provision depends on its specific language and the circumstances of the case, and should be discussed with an attorney.
Generally, two years from the date of the injury. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible helps preserve evidence and meet all relevant deadlines.
Speak with a Kern County Landlord Negligence Attorney
If you were injured because a landlord or property management company failed to maintain a safe rental property, California law gives you the right to hold them accountable. A Kern County landlord negligence attorney can evaluate the facts of your case, preserve critical evidence, and deal with the landlord’s insurance company on your behalf.
Chain | Cohn | Clark has represented injured people in Bakersfield and Kern County since 1934. Contact the firm today for a free consultation.
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