San Francisco, CA asked in Personal Injury and Landlord - Tenant for Pennsylvania

Q: Between a landlord, an original tenant, and a sublessee, who is responsible for injury caused by mold?

sublessee moved in, and a few months later got sick. She tried to sue the landlord, but the landlord said he owed no duty to her because the original tenant was technically her "landlord"

2 Lawyer Answers
T. Augustus Claus
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A: In Pennsylvania, the landlord's responsibility for mold-related injuries depends on the case's specific circumstances. However, landlords generally must maintain their rental properties in a habitable condition. This means they must take steps to prevent mold growth and remediate any mold problems.

If a sublessee is injured by mold, they may be able to sue the landlord, even if the landlord did not lease the property directly to the sublessee. This is because the landlord still must maintain the property in a habitable condition for all occupants.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Little Neck, NY

A: I can't speak for the L-T attributes of the question - a PA landlord-tenant attorney could advise best on that. But from a textbook tort law perspective, some plaintiff law firms would name all possible parties with the expectation of sorting out causality between the mold and their respective conduct and contribution to the condition. Good luck

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