High-risk tenants, such as liquor and gun stores, pose potential dangers that typical retail businesses don't. But because alcohol and guns are available at limited locations, these high-risk tenants have a captive audience of customers that create a steady income stream, lessening the chances that they will default on rent or move out before the end of their lease terms.

Q An employee of a tenant at the office building I own is suing me for negligence, claiming that my property manager's failure to repair a loose step caused the employee to fall down a stairway, injuring his back and neck. The manager had recently fixed other loose steps on the staircase, but hadn't noticed a problem with the step that later injured the employee. Could I be liable for his accident even though the step had become faulty since the original repairs?

If you don't maintain any control over your property, don't assume that fact will shield you from liability for an accident. It is uncommon for out-of-possession owners to win liability cases with this argument. For example, if you are aware of a dangerous condition or there is an incident of gross negligence at your property, it won't matter that you don't have much to do with day-to-day operations.