Rental Property & Landlord Negligence
Lawyers
Your home should be a place where you feel safe. When a landlord or property owner fails to properly maintain a rental property, the consequences can be serious, leaving tenants, guests, and visitors dealing with injury, medical treatment, lost income, and an uncertain recovery.
Our rental property liability lawyers help people who have been injured because of unsafe conditions, poor maintenance, or hazards that should have been addressed. Whether you’ve suffered a fall on a defective staircase, been injured by a structural defect, or were harmed because a landlord ignored a known safety risk, our No Win No Fee team is here to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Am I eligible to claim compensation from my landlord?
If you were injured at a rental property because of an unsafe condition, you may be entitled to compensation. In most cases, you’ll need to show that the landlord was responsible for addressing a hazard and that their failure to do so caused your injury.
If you answer yes to the following questions, you may have a claim.
If you answer yes to these questions, you may have a claim.
1. Did the landlord have a responsibility to keep the property safe?
Landlords and property owners are responsible for maintaining rental properties in a reasonably safe condition. This includes areas they are responsible for repairing or maintaining, such as stairs, balconies, pathways, lighting, and other structural features of the property.
2. Did the landlord fail to fix or address a hazard?
Many rental property injury claims involve hazards that were ignored, left unrepaired, or not properly maintained. Examples include broken stairs, loose handrails, faulty wiring, uneven pathways, leaking roofs, poor lighting, or other defects that create a risk of injury. If the landlord knew, or should have known, about the problem and failed to act, they may be liable.
3. Was your injury caused by that hazard?
To make a successful claim, there needs to be a connection between the unsafe condition and your injury. Evidence such as photographs, maintenance records, witness statements, and medical reports can help show how the landlord’s failure contributed to what happened.
Landlord negligence claims:
Your rights, our fight
Rental property injuries can be caused by a wide range of hazards, from slips and falls to structural defects, electrical hazards, and exposure to dangerous substances. While these claims generally fall under public liability law, the circumstances of each injury can affect how liability is established and what compensation may be available. Understanding your specific situation helps identify the strongest path forward.
Slips, trips, and falls on rental property
- Falls caused by defective stairs, broken handrails, or uneven flooring
- Injuries from inadequate lighting in common areas or stairwells
- Slips on hazards the landlord failed to repair or warn about
- Falls from balconies, decks, or railings that weren't properly maintained.
Structural and maintenance defects
- Injuries from collapsing ceilings, floors, decks, or balconies
- Harm caused by deteriorating or unrepaired building elements
- Damage from doors, windows, or fixtures in disrepair
- Injuries caused by defects that the landlord was aware of, or was warned about, but failed to address.
Electrical, gas, and fire hazards
- Injuries from faulty wiring, unsafe appliances, or electrical faults
- Burns and harm caused by gas leaks or defective heating
- Injuries and illness linked to a landlord's failure to maintain safety systems
- Harm from missing or non-functioning smoke alarms.
Mould, water damage, asbestos, and health hazards
- Respiratory illness caused by mould or damp
- Injuries linked to leaks, water damage, or untreated moisture
- Harm from asbestos exposure or other hazardous materials
- Health impacts from hazards a landlord failed to fix or manage.
Common area and shared property injuries
- Injuries in shared driveways, car parks, gardens, and entryways
- Harm caused by inadequate maintenance of communal spaces
- Falls and accidents in stairwells, hallways, and lifts.
Visitor and guest injuries
- Injuries to family, friends, and other lawful visitors on rental property
- Harm to tradespeople and service providers attending the premises
- Claims where someone other than the tenant was injured by a hazard.
Speak with a rental property liability lawyer now.
Start with a free consultation and get your case reviewed within minutes.
Why Choose Gerard Malouf & Partners
What can you claim when suing a landlord for negligence?
When a landlord’s neglect causes injury, the law gives you the right to seek compensation. This can include medical costs, lost income, and the longer-term impact on your health, work, and daily life. The aim is to cover both immediate expenses and ongoing harm caused by unsafe rental conditions.
Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Hospital care, surgery, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, and medication
- Rehabilitation and ongoing treatment for serious or permanent injuries
- Mobility aids or home modifications needed because of your injury.
Loss of income and earning capacity
- Wages lost while you were unable to work
- Reduced future earning capacity due to long-term effects of your injury
- Impact on superannuation and other employment entitlements.
Pain, suffering, and other losses
- Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Paid or unpaid care and assistance with daily tasks you can no longer manage
- Out-of-pocket expenses such as travel to medical appointments and related costs.
Family member claims
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or family member affected by an injury caused by unsafe rental conditions, you may be able to claim for:
- The cost of providing ongoing care and support to the injured person
- Loss of income or expenses incurred while providing care or arranging assistance
- Emotional distress where the injury has caused a significant psychological impact
- Loss of relationship and disruption to family life caused by serious, long-term injury.
Our Unique Fee Reduction Guarantee
Satisfaction first:
Fees second
If our service fails to meet the high standards we set, we’ll reduce our fees. We are the only Australian firm that backs our service with a written cost reduction promise, giving you total confidence in your claim.
The compensation claim process: Your journey with GMP Law
Initial consultation
Evidence gathering
Claim submission
Negotiation
We’ll advocate fiercely on your behalf, aiming for a fair settlement that truly reflects your needs.
Court representation
Ongoing support
We’re here to address any questions or concerns that arise along the way.
Why choose the best medical negligence lawyers for your claim?
Our No Win No Fee lawyers specialise in handling some of the most complex and challenging cases. With deep expertise in compensation law, we understand the unique difficulties these claims present and know how to navigate them effectively.
Key benefits include:
98% success rate
Australia-wide coverage.
Expert rental property liability lawyer support in every state
Free initial consultation
to assess your claim
Award-winning lawyers
Proudly recognised by Doyles Guide 2025 for excellence in personal injury legal services
No Win No Fee.
Specialised expertise.
Our accredited lawyers bring years of experience managing complex claims
No Win No Fee
Fee transparency that you can trust
At GMP Law, we’re committed to ensuring you have nothing to lose with our No Win No Fee service.
How our No Win No Fee system works:
No upfront costs
Start your claim without any financial risk
No contingency fees.
We don’t take a percentage of your settlement
Fair hourly rates.
When you win, we charge transparent hourly rates
Careful case evaluation.
We only take cases we believe can succeed
Our commitment. If we don’t believe your case will result in compensation or if costs outweigh benefits, we won’t take it on. This dedication to our clients’ best interests sets our No Win No Fee landlord negligence lawyers apart.
Proven results: Personal injury on rental property case studies
At GMP Law, we have a strong track record of representing clients injured in unsafe or poorly maintained rental properties. We act for people from all walks of life, helping them pursue compensation after landlord negligence and hazardous living conditions.
Case 1: Slip and injury caused by unrepaired leaking shower in rental unit
Background
Our client slipped on water leaking from a faulty shower in a rental unit, causing knee, back, and finger injuries as well as psychological trauma.
Negligence
Despite repeated complaints, the shower leak was not repaired, creating an unsafe and hazardous living environment.
GMP Law’s approach
The GMP Law team relied on photographic evidence, medical reports, and specialist assessments to prove the extent of injury and ongoing impairment.
Outcome
The matter settled before hearing, with compensation covering pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and care needs.
What our clients say:
These are genuine reviews from real clients on Google, sharing their experiences with our rental property liability lawyers.
Turning injuries into justice, transforming lives through compensation
At GMP Law, we’re not just fighting for compensation – we’re fighting for your right to recover, rebuild, and reclaim your life after an injury. Read our medical negligence case studies:
Natalie’s story: From no case to $370k after a footpath fall
Natalie was the epitome of an active, outdoor-loving Australian. As a food delivery driver, she spent her days on the move,
Nick’s story: $3m+ public liability settlement after resort pool accident
Nick and Michelle’s journey In February 2020, what began as a romantic getaway to celebrate Michelle’s birthday and their first wedding
Maria’s story: $232,500 after a shopping centre trip and fall Maria’s story Maria, a jewellery sales consultant, experienced how quickly life
Jennifer’s journey: Achieving justice and $242,500 after a slip and fall injury
Jennifer’s Journey:Achieving Justice and $242,500 After a Slip and Fall Injury Jennifer’s story In October 2022, a routine lunch outing turned
Meet our rental property liability lawyers
Meet our dedicated team of rental property liability lawyers, with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and across Australia. We specialise in helping tenants and residents secure compensation for injuries caused by unsafe or poorly maintained rental properties.
Our experienced public liability lawyers are committed to holding negligent property owners accountable and helping you access the compensation and support you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions about landlord negligence
Can a tenant sue a landlord for injury?
Yes. A tenant can sue a landlord for injury if the landlord’s negligence caused the harm. For example, by failing to repair a known hazard, neglecting maintenance, or ignoring unsafe conditions in the property.
To succeed, you generally need to show:
- The landlord owed a duty of care
- They breached that duty by failing to act reasonably
- This breach caused your injury.
Not every accident in a rental property leads to a claim, but where landlord negligence is involved, legal action may be available. A rental property liability lawyer can assess whether your situation supports a claim.
Is a landlord liable for tenant injury?
A landlord may be liable for a tenant’s injury if they failed to take reasonable steps to keep the property safe and that failure caused the injury.
Liability is often clearer where:
- The landlord knew about a hazard (for example, it was reported) and did not fix it within a reasonable time
- A defect in the structure or common area under the landlord’s control caused the injury.
A landlord is generally not liable for accidents they could not reasonably prevent, or for hazards created by the tenant.
Each case depends on its specific facts, so it’s important to have a landlord negligence lawyer review the circumstances.
Do repair requests and notices matter in a rental property negligence claim?
Yes. Repair requests and written notice can be important evidence in proving landlord negligence.
If a landlord or property manager was told about a hazard and failed to fix it within a reasonable time, this can help establish that they knew about the risk but did not take proper steps to address it.
Useful evidence includes:
- Emails, text messages, or written repair requests
- Property condition reports and inspection records
- Maintenance logs or landlord responses
- Photos showing the ongoing hazard over time.
Keeping clear records of complaints and repair requests can significantly strengthen your claim by showing the landlord had notice of the danger. Because hazards are often repaired after an injury, gathering this evidence early—or engaging a lawyer who can obtain it—is important when claiming compensation from a landlord.
How much compensation can I get for landlord negligence?
There is no fixed amount of compensation for landlord negligence in Australia, as every case depends on the nature and severity of the injury and its long-term impact.
Courts assess a range of factors, including:
- The seriousness and permanence of your injuries
- Past and future medical and treatment costs
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and impact on daily life and independence.
Minor injuries that resolve quickly generally attract lower compensation, while serious or permanent injuries can result in significantly higher awards. In Australia, these heads of damage are assessed under state-based personal injury laws and common law principles.
What if I was injured as a visitor, not the tenant?
You do not need to be the tenant to make a claim. Landlords in Australia owe a duty of care to lawful visitors, including guests, family members, tradespeople, and others legally on the property.
If you are injured due to a landlord’s failure to maintain safe premises—such as broken stairs, unsafe walkways, or other hazards—you may still be entitled to compensation. The key issue is whether reasonable care was taken to keep the property safe, not your legal status as a tenant.
Is my landlord negligent if I am exposed to asbestos?
If you were exposed to asbestos in a rental property, you may have a claim if your landlord failed to take reasonable steps to manage or disclose the risk.
In Australia, landlords have legal duties to provide a safe living environment, including identifying and properly managing asbestos where it is present.
A claim may be possible where:
- Asbestos was not disclosed to tenants
- It was disturbed during repairs or renovations
- No proper inspection or licensed removal was arranged.
Exposure may be minor and contained, but in some cases long-term exposure can contribute to serious conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, which may take many years to develop.
A rental property liability lawyer can assess whether the landlord met their obligations and whether compensation may be available for medical costs, lost income, and long-term health effects.
Learn more about injuries on rental properties
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