Illegal Activity/Underage Drinking

[Logan Pou]

Hi all,

I’m curious if you rent a house on a college campus per say and the students are involved in illegal activities such as underage drinking/furnishing alcohol/using drugs, are you liable if someone gets caught or hurt ?

Thank you for your time and hope you have a wonderful day !

[Greg M.]

Some areas will hold landlords liable for illegal activities at their properties. However, that is usually used in relation to drug operations (grow house, dealing out of the house, illegal dispensary) and the landlord has some knowledge about it. Other places can hold you liable if there are a certain number of complaints. 

If you're worried that your tenants are going to throw a kegger and someone gets drunk and crashes their car, no you're not likely to have liability. You legally rented a unit to an adult. Poor choices of that adult do not transfer liability to you. If it did, all landlords would be bankrupt and in jail.