Our solicitors recently represented a man who was injured after slipping in the garden at his rented property. In the communal garden was a set of stone steps covered in algae and moss. Mr V was walking across the garden one evening, when he slipped on one of the stone steps, and fell backwards onto the ground, breaking his coccyx (tailbone) and bruising his lower back in the process.
His wife drove him to their local hospital, where his injuries were treated and he was later discharged on crutches. He was off work for four weeks following the accident, and was in constant pain and discomfort during that time. The landlord had received multiple complaints about the slippery stone steps in the garden, but no action had been taken to render them safe. Upset and angry about the situation, Mr V decided to seek a legal opinion.
Tenant Sued Landlord for Slipping on Mossy Garden Steps
Mr V got in touch with our firm and asked us; can I claim for slipping on dangerous garden steps at a rented property? We advised him that he could and agreed to represent him in a claim against his landlord. We went on to argue that the growth on the garden steps was an obvious slip hazard, and could have easily been removed with a pressure washer, a stiff brush or by chemical treatment. Otherwise some sort of anti-slip covering should have been laid over the stone steps.
Under the Defective Premises Act 1972, landlords owe a duty of care and must meet their contractual obligation to keep their premises in a state of good repair. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 also imposes a duty of care on landlords to make sure that visitors are kept reasonably safe while on the premises. In this case, the landlord was clearly liable for the state of the garden steps and for Mr V’s injuries resulting from the accident. The latter subsequently received a cheque for £3,750 in compensation for his injuries.
Case Study: Tenant Injured Falling Over Pothole in Car Park
Our client was a tenant in a medium-sized residential block, where each flat was owned and leased by the same landlord. The block had an outdoor car park, the upkeep of which was the landlord’s responsibility. The tenant, Mr F, was crossing the car park one evening, when he stepped into a pothole and fell down awkwardly, damaging ligaments in his knee and spraining his ankle. No action had been taken to repair surface defects in the car park at the block, despite a number of residents having voiced concerns about its safety to the building manager. Mr F was on crutches for two weeks following the accident, and was forced to take time off work due to his mobility problems. A month later, repairs to the car park’s surface had still not been carried out, and after consultation with other residents, Mr F decided to seek legal advice.
Acting on Mr F’s behalf, we argued that given the terms of the tenants’ lease agreements, the landlord should have made some provision for ensuring that the car park was kept in a reasonably safe state for residents. The tenants all paid a sizable service charge for living at the property, and the cost of employing a contractor to deal with the upkeep of external areas should have been factored into this. The landlord had been informed about the danger posed by potholes in the car park, and had acted negligently in failing to take any action to keep the car park safe. We were able to reach agreement on a compensation settlement of £3,500, paid out under the terms of the landlord’s building insurance policy.
Our Experience With Accidents at Home
We have won a variety of cases for clients who have been injured at rented properties, ranging from a claim on behalf of a tenant who fell down poorly lit communal stairs, to a claim on behalf of a child who was injured by discarded building materials at a rented property.
The Claims Process
Claiming with us is easy. Get a free no obligation initial consultation about your case, your rights, and our no win no fee agreement. All information can be taken over the phone. Medical treatment is local to you. We aim to keep the claims process short by keeping claims out of court. If your claim does need to go to court it is unlikely that you will need to attend court, as cases settle before the final hearing.
Your Compensation
Compensation will pay for private healthcare treatment. It will also cover:
- Physiotherapy
- Psychological therapy
- Expenses (such as the cost of travel to hospital appointments)
- Loss of income
- Household adaptations
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
Make a free compensation enquiry today
For specialist advice on your personal injury claim, call us now on Liverpool 0151 227 3391 or Chester 01244 645830 or Wrexham 01978 360056 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.
