Legal Definitions - ut hospites

"Ut hospites" is a Latin phrase that translates to "as guests." In legal contexts, it refers to the status of individuals who are present on property or in a situation in a temporary capacity, without ownership or a permanent right to be there. This term helps define the level of duty or responsibility owed to such individuals.

The Latin phrase ut hospites translates to "as guests." In legal contexts, this term refers to the status of individuals who are present on someone else's property by invitation, for a temporary period, and typically without paying for their presence (in the sense of rent or a commercial transaction for access to the property itself). It implies a certain duty of care owed by the property owner or occupier to ensure the safety of these invited visitors.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of ut hospites:

• Social Visitor at a Private Home: Imagine Sarah invites her friend Mark over for a casual dinner party at her house. Mark is present on Sarah's property ut hospites. Sarah, as the homeowner, has a legal duty to ensure her home is reasonably safe for Mark. For instance, if there's a loose step on her porch that she knows about, she should warn Mark or fix it to prevent injury. Mark's status as a guest means he is not a tenant, nor is he trespassing; he is there by invitation for a social purpose.

• Job Applicant at a Corporate Office: Consider a candidate, Alex, who is invited to a company's headquarters for a job interview. While Alex is on the company's premises, they are there ut hospites. The company owes Alex a duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment during their visit. If, for example, a wet floor sign is missing near a recent spill, and Alex slips and falls, the company could be held responsible because Alex was present as an invited guest for a legitimate, temporary purpose.