For what reasons must an occupier protect a licensee?

An occupier has a legal duty to protect a licensee from known dangers on the premises. This responsibility is rooted in the understanding that a licensee is someone who is allowed to enter the property for their own purposes, typically without any payment or contractual relationship. As such, the occupier must ensure that any risks or dangers that they are aware of, which could cause harm to the licensee, are adequately addressed.

For instance, if an occupier knows that there is a hazardous condition—like a loose railing or a wet floor—they must either fix the issue or warn the licensee about it. This duty does not extend to unknown dangers or potential hazards that the occupier is not aware of, as they cannot protect against risks that they do not know exist. Consequently, the other options do not align with this legal standard: an occupier is not responsible for all possible hazards, and their duty does not include protecting a licensee from damages related to personal property or accidents that occur off the property.