What is expected of landowners in relation to protecting individuals on their property?

Landowners are generally expected to exercise reasonable care to ensure the safety of individuals on their property. This means that while they are responsible for maintaining their premises in a safe condition and addressing hazards that could harm others, they are not required to provide complete security or monitor every activity taking place on their property.

The concept of reasonable care takes into account what a typical property owner would do under similar circumstances. This includes regular maintenance, addressing known risks, and providing adequate warnings about any hazards that may not be immediately obvious. For example, if there are uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting, or other potential dangers, it is the responsibility of landowners to mitigate these risks in a way that is proportionate to the likelihood of harm and the potential severity of that harm.

Options suggesting that landowners must provide complete security or anticipate all possible dangers set an unrealistic and overly burdensome standard. It is not feasible or required by law for them to ensure that accidents cannot happen at all or to be aware of every possible danger that exists in every scenario. The standard of reasonable care strikes a balance between a landowner's responsibilities and the reality of managing a property.