PREMISES LIABILITY RISKS FOR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Allowing individuals to inhabit your property exposes you to several liabilities, many of which vary in severity depending on state and local laws. Consider the following, and work with INSURICA to develop an appropriate risk management plan.
Habitability
In many cases, and especially if you are receiving public funding, you are responsible for maintaining certain standards of habitability for those staying on your property. It is important to be familiar with all local codes, including fire codes, health codes, tax codes and electrical codes. Requirements may include the following:
- Structurally sound buildings
- Sanitary conditions
- Clean water supply
- Adequate air quality
- Sufficient space and security for each occupant
- Lack of lead-based paint hazards
- A certain number of smoke detectors
Premises Liability
If a visitor to your shelter suffers harm from unsafe or unhealthy conditions, and subsequently decides to sue you, you could be held negligent and be responsible for damages. As a property owner, you are legally responsible for preventing visitors from being injured or sickened on your property—this is called reasonable care. When someone is injured on your property as a result of your failure to repair or warn him or her about a danger on the property, you are liable for damages. The extent to which you are liable depends on case history in each state.
Protecting your organization from this exposure could comprise a variety of actions:
- Proper warning. For some hazards, a simple posting can satisfy your legal duty.
- If you are able to predict something that could cause sickness or injuries—for example, a bad water heater, a faulty furnace or other hazards—prevent those problems from hurting those staying on your property by fixing problems immediately and maintaining the facility properly.
- Taking precautions against careless or criminal conduct on the part of a third party. This may include hiring security or installing security systems, gates or fences.
Work with Us
Examine your organization, and determine which preventive measures are appropriate to protect against liability. It is important to remember that the degree to which you could be held liable is largely dependent on your jurisdiction and the outcome of past cases.
In addition to taking necessary preventive steps, work with INSURICA to ensure that you have purchased sufficient liability insurance that will cover you in the event of a claim.
About the Author
Share This Story
Related Blogs
Fiduciary Responsibilities for Employer Health Plans: What Employers Should Know Now
When employers think about fiduciary responsibility, retirement plans often come to mind first. But recent developments make it clear that fiduciary duties also matter—sometimes significantly—when it comes to employer-sponsored health and welfare plans.
The New Era of Mental Health Parity Enforcement in 2026
Federal agencies have made mental health parity enforcement a top priority in 2026, and employers sponsoring group health plans are feeling the impact. Regulators are no longer satisfied with high‑level assurances that plans comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Instead, they expect detailed, data‑driven documentation showing that mental health and substance‑use‑disorder benefits are truly comparable to medical and surgical benefits. This includes not only the written plan design but also how rules are applied in real‑world scenarios.
The 2026 Specialty Drug Surge: What Employers Need to Prepare For
Specialty drugs have been a major cost driver for years, but 2026 marks a significant shift in both scale and urgency. With GLP 1 medications expanding into new indications, gene therapies entering the market at record pace, and oncology drugs continuing to rise in both cost and utilization, specialty medications are projected to account for more than 60% of total pharmacy spending this year. That’s a dramatic change for employers, especially considering that specialty drugs represent fewer than 5% of total prescriptions.