Is a landlord liable for a tenant's dog bite?

In Massachusetts, a landlord is not typically held liable for a tenant’s dog bite. This is because landlords are not generally held liable for the acts of their tenants. A court may, however, impose liability if a landlord had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous behavior prior to the incident and failed to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation. In Massachusetts, a dog bite is considered to be a strict liability offense, meaning that an owner or keeper of the dog is strictly liable for the damages caused by the dog, regardless of the owner or keeper’s knowledge, negligence, or lack thereof. Therefore, if a tenant’s dog bites someone, the tenant is liable for the damages caused by the bite. In order for a landlord to be held liable, the landlord would have to have had knowledge of the dog’s propensity for violent behavior and failed to take action to address it. This could include, for example, requiring that the tenant muzzle or restrain the dog or that the tenant obtain liability insurance. In such cases, the landlord’s negligence in failing to take appropriate measures could be used to impose liability for the tenant’s dog bite. In conclusion, a landlord in Massachusetts is not normally responsible for a tenant’s dog bite. In order for a landlord to be held liable, they must have had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous behavior and failed to take action to address it.

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