Basement Egress Liability

[Fred Jury]

Hello All! Looking at a single family home rental property in Columbus, OH. The property already has a long term tenant. However, they are using the basement rooms as bedrooms with out egress windows. I have found plenty on BP about turning basement well windows into egress windows, but my question is really more of a liability question. How do I either prevent the tenant from using the house in this way? Or make sure I'm covered from a liability standpoint if they do continue to use it this way? Is it as simple as having them sign something as part of the mangement contract? Looking for a solution to this specific issue, as I already have general asset protection using both LLC and insurance strategies. Thanks in advance!

[Thomas S.]

You will be held liable if someone is killed or injured in a fire so your only options are to either make the basement legal or lock it off so the tenants can not use it.