During the pandemic, the short-term rental industry saw a massive boom as hotels closed their doors. However, this surge has also led to an increase in incidents like drownings, shootings, and other safety issues at these properties.

Rentals on the Rise

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and when you’re on vacation, it’s easy to let your guard down.

But here’s the catch: the short-term rental market is largely unregulated. This lack of oversight means more preventable injuries and wrongful deaths.

Traditional hotels usually have security measures in place, but most short-term rentals do not. If a neighborhood has a high crime rate, short-term rental companies often don’t inform guests, leaving them vulnerable.

Navigating Negligent Security

In recent years, vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO have become increasingly popular. However, along with their rise, a worrying trend has surfaced involving the security measures, or lack thereof, taken by those who own and operate these rental properties. This problem not only puts guests at risk but also brings up significant legal concerns that need to be addressed.

Negligent Security is a legal concept that requires property owners or management companies to ensure adequate security on their properties. This means taking reasonable measures such as installing security cameras, providing proper lighting, and monitoring who enters and exits the property.

While the specifics of the law can vary by state, the general principle remains: if a visitor is injured due to a lack of security, the property owner can be held liable.

Common Negligent Security Issues

Negligent security in vacation rentals can look like a variety of things, including:

• Lack of Lighting: Some property owners fail to install enough lighting, especially if they know the place is in a bad area where crimes happen a lot.
• Weak Lock Systems: Some owners don’t bother to put in strong locks or keep security systems working well at the doors.
• No Cameras: When there are no cameras around to monitor, it can be easy for things to get stolen or for guests to get hurt

The last thing you should have to worry about on vacation is negligent security and your safety. If you or someone you know has been injured due to a property owner’s failure to provide adequate security, contact us today.

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