Winter has made its early debut. The snow has begun falling and the salt trucks are already covering the roads (and our cars), and it’s not even December! Despite the bleak forecasts, people are out and about in large numbers, especially in light of the approaching holidays. With the snow comes the ice, and shopkeepers and property owners alike are getting their own shovels and salt stashes ready to clear their walkways and sidewalks for their customers and tenants. Along with the bad weather also come the questions regarding a property owner’s or lessee’s obligations to a tenant or customer to create a safe, and ice or snow free, place to come and go. It’s best to have a plan of action with regard to your property before the bad weather hits and understand your duties to those visiting your property during the winter season. If you’re a landlord, business owner or retail lessee, consider the following:

Landlord/Tenant Obligations

Generally, a landlord has a duty to exercise reasonable care to keep common areas held in the landlord’s control in a safe condition for their tenants, as well as recognize changing conditions and remedy them as they arise. This is especially an issue when the weather turns for the worse. Landlords need to be aware of potential issues as the snow and ice starts to accumulate, keeping on hand the proper materials to keep the walkways clear and safe and be cognizant of problems as they arise so they are fixed in a reasonable manner and within reasonable time.

Business Owners/Lessees

For tenants leasing a retail space, it is important to first look to your retail lease to determine exactly who is obligated, if anyone, to clear and salt the walkways and storefront in bad weather such as snow and ice. If your business or property sits on a municipality owned walkway or roadway, look to your city ordinances to determine whose obligation this may be in inclement weather. Determining whose responsibility it is to take action when winter hits is the first step in preventing injuries on your premises as well as liability for yourself or your business. Whether you’re a retail landlord or tenant, consider whether you need to incorporate language into your lease that speaks to duties with regard to snow and ice if these obligations are not clear.

If your business, like many others, clears and salts its sidewalks and parking lots to encourage people to come in despite the wintery conditions, it is important to have a consistent policy in keeping your premises clear and as safe as possible. With a change in Kentucky law over the last 5 years, even if it is obvious to your customers that weather is poor and the sidewalks slick, the entity occupying the property could still face liability if it doesn’t ensure the care towards its premises is reasonable under the circumstances.

By addressing these potential issues early, landlords, business owners and lessee’s can reduce the possibility of incidents on their premises and injuries to their customers or tenants during the winter season.