Occupiers Liability Flashcards
Basic knowledge - where does it come from and what does it involve?
- Comes from statute & common law
- Involves the liability of an occupier to both visitors and persons other than visitors
MAIN ACT
Occupiers Liability Act 1957 - for visitors
Occupier definition
person who has control of land or buildings
person who has possession
may be more than 1 occupier (wheat v Lacon)
ACT DOES NOT DEFINE WHO IS THE OCCUPIER - STATES THAT THE RULES OF COMMON LAW SHOULD APPLY s1(2)
Premises definition
land or buildings which are occupied includes structures (grandstands) includes moving structures (vehicles - wheeler v copas)
What is the test that should be applied?
occupational control
control = occupier and owe DoC
Wheat v Lacon (1996) - categories
- Tenants ( where the landlord does not have access)
- Landlords (who still retain some access to the property while be occupier of those areas - eg : apartment building lift
- Landlords who grant a license for their property (eg - pub)
- Owner of land/building will be occupier where contractors are employed
Wheat v Lacon (1996) - categories
1.Tenants ( where the landlord does not have access)
2.Landlords (who still retain some access to the property while be occupier of those areas - eg : apartment building lift
3.Landlords who grant a license for their property (eg - pub)
4. Owner of land/building will be occupier where contractors are employed
- sometimes contractor will be occupier (while building is being
built)
Harris v Birkenhead Corporation (1976)
- infant fell out of 2nd floor window
- 1st instance - in favour of plaintiff - corp appealed
- issue = establish at which point the local authority and corporation become the occupier of the property
- local authority = occupier
- after service of notice of entry is serves to a tenant. - relevant authority becomes legal occupier
LAWFUL VISITORS
Anyone who is present in the premises by:
- occupiers invitation
- occupiers express/implied permission
- exercise of legal right (emergency services/meter reader)
Expressed permission
permission that is given specifically, verbally or written
Implied permission
not expressly granted by a person, rather implicitly granted by a persons actions and the facts and circumstances of a particular situation (entrance into a pub/restaurant)
Visitors according to s1(2)
- Invited people - friends/workmen
- Licensees such as customers
- Those entering under contractual agreement
- Those not requiring permission due to legal rights - police/meter readers
Lowrey v Walker (1911)
- owner of a savage hose places into a field where members of public cross on their way to railway
- plaintiff = attacked by horse
- landowner had never stopped trespassers
- D = liable - plaintiff did not have express permission
- permission implied due to repeated trespass
COMMON DUTY OF CARE
section 2 occupiers liability act 1957 - imposes a duty of case owed to lawful visitors
section 2 occupiers liability act 1957
- An occupier of premises owes the same duty to all their visitors …. amend this duty to any visitor by agreement
- take reasonable care in all circumstances to see that the visitor is reasonably safe when using the premises for the purpose of which they are invited