Many Orange County property owners believe that their general liability insurance policies are enough to cover anything that could happen on the property. However, that might not be the case when it comes to the commercial tenants occupying the building. Since that is a special relationship, a landlord may want to obtain some extra protection for issues that arise with a commercial tenant occupying the property.
Lessor’s risk-only insurance specifically protects a landlord from claims filed by tenants leasing a commercial space. Many insurance companies require the landlord to not occupy more than 25 percent of the property in order to issue a policy. It covers a variety of bodily injury and property damage claims that could come from a tenant.
These policies cover claims such as weather damage, slips and falls, fire, theft, vandalism and water-related damage, among other things. Many of the claims covered would not come from a third party off the street who visits a tenant’s business. These claims arise out of situations tied to the property’s occupancy.
Litigation of any type can prove costly and time consuming. If a dispute cannot be settled without going to court, having insurance could help take at least some of the financial burden off an Orange County landlord. Property owners who wish to explore the best ways to protect themselves financially from commercial tenant claims may want to consult with an experienced attorney since insurance is not the only way to limit potential liability that could arise from the landlord-tenant relationship.
