As a landlord, it is your responsibility to provide a safe and secure place for your tenants to live. Even if you have the best landlord insurance, it still pays to make them flat or house as safe as possible to avoid any accidents.
A person’s house is supposed to be their safe haven no matter if they rent or own. Make sure that you’ve done your part to create this safe space for them for their sake and for yours. Accidents that happen on your property caused by negligence can put you in hot water.
While focusing on keeping your property safe for the tenants, you need to also protect your investment, this basic guide will help you.
Make it burglar proof
One way to ensure your tenants’ safety is to make sure that nobody can get in unwanted. If your property is in a deprived area then this is even more essential. Rentals are sometimes targeted because it is understood that a renter may not invest in the best security and landlords are known to cut corners.
The easiest way to ensure that the property is secure is to change the locks after the last tenant moves out so nobody else has access to keys that can get them in. The last tenant may have been trustworthy but if they gave the key to somebody else the problem can come from there. You don’t have to spend a lot as many doors have the most common Euro cylinder size.
If you really want to be sure, then invest in a whole-house security system that has alarms, security cameras, and even smart locks.
Upgrade the electrical system
Most house fires are the result of a faulty electrical system. Short circuits can burn out wires that catch fire to other areas. This can all be avoided by upgrading ageing electrical systems.
There are new types of hardware that are rated against heat and are less likely to cause a fire in the worst-case scenarios. If you get a smart system then you can even track where too much electricity is being drawn and alert your tenants to not overload an outlet.
Repair any leaks right away
Water doesn’t cause damage, it also causes major safety concerns. Water getting into a house can weaken support structures and make it likely that it can fall on somebody. Then, water can cause an electrical fire that can cause obvious problems.
And even wet floors pose a hazard especially if they are frequent. Take reports of any leak seriously as even small leaks can hide bigger issues.
Eliminate areas where trips happen
Any walkway or flooring needs to be even and easy to walk on without the risk of tripping. If there are pieces of concrete broken on a path or the floor in the home has ripped carpet or tiling that is broken then these are big risks.
Some trips and falls can happen in a perfect setting. When you allow the house and property to fall into disrepair then you are opening up the possibility of a serious injury to your tenant.
Keep it up to code
If there are things like mould or lead paint in the flat or property then it is your responsibility to get rid of it to keep it up to safety codes. Mould can cause serious respiratory problems in your tenants and lead paint is known to cause problems in a child’s development.
You should do what you can to prevent mould by using waterproof paints and making sure that there are no leaks in the building. After all, it is cheaper and less work to prevent these problems than to fix them after.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are also usually required depending on where your property is located. Even if it isn’t explicitly required then you should still install them and make sure the batteries are changed every six months.
Although window guards are not required, in certain jurisdictions a landlord must install them if a tenant asks for them. If the tenant has children then this is likely to be requested. And in areas where crime is high then you should be thinking about it anyway to keep your tenants safe.
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