Law Blog

As colder months approach, people begin to plan vacations to escape the bitter, long Chicago winter. Renting short-term, privately owned vacation homes through websites such as Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. has become a popular alternative to traditional accommodations, such as booking a room or at a hotel or resort. The benefits of privately owned vacation home rentals have caused them to rise in popularity among vacationers, especially those with a larger group or who plan on staying at their destination more than a few nights. While vacation home rentals provide a unique and fun way to escape the cold and relax, they also provide more of a risk of injury than a traditional hotel or resort. Because the vacation homes listed on rental websites are privately owned, there is a greater chance of defects, hazards, or unsafe conditions to be present and left unfixed prior to your stay.

Many vacation homeowners own several properties or use the property strictly for a rental as an investment. As such, in many cases, owners do not personally tend to and inspect the property in between renters’ stays. Many owners simply hire a cleaning service to tidy up and property and prepare it for the next renter. This can cause defects or unsafe conditions to easily go unnoticed. Dangerous conditions can be caused by previous renters, customary wear on the property, the homeowner themselves, or natural causes such as weather. Such conditions can range from a defective staircase or unsecure handrailing, to faulty electrical wiring or gas pipes. These hazards can lead to a variety of injuries. Regardless of the cause, it is important for patrons who are injured to understand the law applied to these unfortunate scenarios.

            Several parties could be liable to injuries caused by a dangerous condition or defect at a vacation home rental. First and foremost, the owner of the property is liable for injuries that occur due to a defect on their property. However, any person or company who manages and/or maintains the property for the owner, as well as any rental company that the injured party may have booked the property through can also be held liable. Most claims brought against any of these parties for injuries at a vacation home are brought by negligence or premises liability. In order to have a successful case grounded in either of these theories, the injured party must be able to prove that the owner caused or failed to prevent the dangerous condition. Further, you must be able to show that the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the property was in an unsafe condition.

            Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, The duty owed to such entrants is that of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them. (740 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 130/2). Vacation home rental owners, as well as rental websites, owe their renters a duty to maintain the property keep them safe. This should include regular inspection of all the property, as well as remedying any defects, hazards, or unsafe conditions that are found to be present and give inherent risk to injury in any way.


The first step you should take after being injured at a vacation rental is to seek immediate medical attention medical care. Premises liability injuries are usually severe, so it is imperative to make safety a top priority and ensure your injuries are properly treated. It is also important to receive medical treatment to determine the severity of your injuries. Once you are safe and have received the proper medical treatment, you should contact a personal injury attorney. A qualified personal injury attorney will work with you to determine if you should take legal action to receive financial compensation for your injuries.

The personal injury attorneys at Sherwood Law Group have significant experience in all types of personal injury matters, including slips, trips, and falls, premises liability issues, and products liability issues. If you or someone you know has been injured at a vacation rental, we at Sherwood Law Group may be able to help you. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will thoroughly evaluate your case and get you the compensation that you rightfully deserve for your injuries. All consultations are absolutely free. Contact Sherwood Law Group at 312.627.1650 or info@sherwoodlawgroup.com.