Liability in holiday complex: Who pays?

Questioner

With a group of volunteers we manage a complex with holiday apartments in France. The management is done on a voluntary basis, there is no payment or drawn up contract. The Dutch owner of the complex is often not present. Suppose something happens to a holidaymaker during his holiday in the complex, can the management couple be held liable or does this responsibility lie with the owner? The tenant of an apartment can fall down the stairs or have another abnormal accident and wants to blame the manager.

Lawyer

Yes, that is possible. Both the manager, the owner of the buildings or the landlord, possibly the cleaner or his employer can all be held liable, separately but also jointly. Usually a liable party is found who is insured against this and then follows from pillar to post between insurers.