Most commercial property managers believe they have COI compliance handled. They track expirations. They follow up when a policy lapses. They keep a spreadsheet or maybe a platform that shows green checkmarks next to tenant names. And every time they look at that spreadsheet, they feel a little better about their risk exposure. That confidence is misplaced. Here's why

Winter is coming, and for multifamily owners, “slip-and-fall season” is no joke. What once might have been a modest claim (say, $40–$60K) is now routinely pushing into six figures, and even jury verdicts in the millions are showing up. Couple that with insurance premiums rising at rates many haven’t seen before, and you’ve got a serious threat to NOI, asset value, and insurability. If you manage, invest in, or insure multifamily property, it's time to see slip-and-fall risk not as a liability footnote, but as a core financial exposure.

Over the past few years, multifamily operators have been flooded with new AI tools. Most of the buzz has focused on front-office functions — AI agents handling leasing inquiries, marketing follow-ups, and even rent optimization. These technologies can improve efficiency and even drive revenue, but they only address one side of the business. Meanwhile, the biggest financial shocks operators are facing today aren’t from missed leads or vacant units. They’re from lawsuits, insurance hikes, and preventable claims. Slip-and-fall incidents now regularly settle in the six figures. Habitability lawsuits are filed daily in major markets. And property insurance premiums have doubled or tripled in just the last few years.