Wisconsin landlords are responsible for maintaining their rental properties. However, when a negligent landlord fails to maintain a rental home properly, accidents can happen. Prior to renting property to tenants it is a landlord's responsibility to ensure the safety of the property. It is also their responsibility to keep rental units up to code by maintaining running water, electricity and a working heat source -- especially in our state's harsh winters.

A landlord in Columbus, Ohio, did not ensure that the property he was renting met up to these standards, demonstrating the importance of proper maintenance in order to avoid tragic results and potential premises liability lawsuits.

A 22-year-old woman, her 33-year-old boyfriend and her 4-year-old son died when a space heater ignited a mattress, Columbus arson investigators say. It appears the man tried to carry the mattress out the front door, but passed out due to the heat and smoke.

The woman appears to have fallen off the mattress when the man grabbed it, but she did not make it out of the house, arson investigators say. Her brother says she suffered from muscular dystrophy and used a wheelchair. The child's body was found in the same downstairs room.

A spokesman for Columbia Gas says the company had turned off natural gas service to the house on December 24 because there was a gas leak. The house did have electricity, according to Columbus fire officials. However, American Electric Power says according to its records, it was not providing service to the home.

Columbus city officials had ordered the landlord to vacate the Wisconsin Avenue home on October 22, 2009 after investigators discovered the home did not have gas service, had open electrical boxes, leaking plumbing and a defective water heater.

The 72-year-old property owner was supposed to have the home inspected again before renting it, but never did. Failing to obey an order to vacate a property is a misdemeanor. The crime carries a sentence of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The landlord is not currently facing charges in connection with the property's fire. However, he was charged on December 29, 2011 in Franklin County Environmental Court with failing to move tenants out of another property that did not have heat.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch, "Probe of deadly fire turns to landlord," Stephanie Czekalinski and Mark Ferenchik, Dec. 29, 2011.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch, "Landlord charged with not removing tenants from house ordered vacated," Stephanie Czekalinski and Mark Ferenchik, Dec. 30, 2011.