Dog Bite

[Yudelkes]

What is the name of your state? Florida
My tenants dogs have gotten loose off the property. Ive spoken to him 2 times about his responsibility in keeping them under his control. My question is if one of his dogs bits someone am I liable as the landlord owner of the property or only the owner of the dog the tenant.

He paid a fee for each dog before he moved in. If I am liable what should I do?

 

[moburkes]

You need to increase your liability insurance on your rental property, and your tenant needs to show you a copy of the renter's insurance policy with liability coverage that you required him to buy when he moved into your property.

 

[seniorjudge]

You need to increase your liability insurance on your rental property, and your tenant needs to show you a copy of the renter's insurance policy with liability coverage that you required him to buy when he moved into your property.

Is there any truth to the rumor that some liability insurance carriers will no longer insure against dog bites?

 

[moburkes]

Is there any truth to the rumor that some liability insurance carriers will no longer insure against dog bites?

Yes and no. For the companies that don't want to pay: They will ask about dogs up front. If they decide to go ahead and offer the exclusion, you will sign a separate exclusion form (like the one in auto insurance) so that there is no confusion about the fact that the policy specifically excludes coverage for any acts of the dog. Other companies will simply not write the risk. Foremost (which writes the most mobile home insurance and vacant property insurance) will accept the risk, but once you see the premiums, you'll let the dog out of the freeway, and hope that it never comes back.

 

[Yudelkes]

I currently have liablility @ 300,000 but I will have to check to see about dog bites being covered. I did not require for him to carry insurance before he moved in and that requirment is not in the lease.
But could someone tell me if in florida (lake county) is the landlord that is not the owner of the dog is liable; also since the tenants liablitity insurance was not required in the lease, is their anything else I can do?

 

[moburkes]

I'd be looking for a legal way to evict said tenant. Then I'd make sure that all of my leases going forward required renter's insurance.