Legal Definitions - mere licensee

Definition: A mere licensee is someone who has been given permission to enter or use someone else's property, but only for their own purposes and not for the benefit of the property owner. The property owner has a duty to warn the licensee of any dangerous conditions on the property that they are aware of but the licensee is not.

For example, a social guest who has been invited to a party at someone's house is a mere licensee. They have been given permission to enter the property, but only for their own enjoyment and not to benefit the property owner. If the property owner knows of a dangerous condition on the property, such as a loose step, they have a duty to warn the social guest of the danger.

Another example of a mere licensee is someone who takes a shortcut across someone else's land without permission. The property owner may tolerate their presence, but they do not necessarily approve of it.