While managing a rental property can be lucrative, it is also one with several obligations. As a landlord or property manager, you are primarily responsible for your tenant’s well-being and safety. That task often entails being able to spot signs of trouble and proactively resolve them.
Are you a landlord wondering how to keep your tenants safe? Or property managers looking for techniques to reduce potential threats? If so, you’re at the right place. Find the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive property manager’s guide to tenant safety. Let’s get started:
Importance of Tenant Safety
1. To Avoid Legal Suits
One of the foremost importance of tenant safety is to avoid legal suits. However, in specific scenarios, renters can sue their landlords for carelessness that results in them sustaining an injury or personal property damage.
For instance, if someone burgles your rental because the property manager took a long time to fix broken door locks, your renter could have a case. Thus, prioritizing your tenant’s safety would save you great legal trouble.
2. To Maintain a Healthy Relationship with Tenants
Another reason tenant safety is essential is to maintain a healthy relationship with your renters. When the property owner puts the proper security measures in place and goes out of their way to protect their tenants, tenants feel safer. Besides, under such circumstances, even if an unexpected accident were to occur, renters would be less likely to take legal action. That’s why it’s crucial to hire good property managers to help provide a safe environment for tenants.
3. To Limit Tenant Turnover
For most tenants, security is often one of their foremost priorities before moving to a new place. Thus, they’re less likely to leave when they find a safe environment with a landlord who cares about their wellbeing and safety. As a result, you will be able to limit vacancies in your units by cutting tenant turnover. Consequently, you would make more money in the long run with fewer turnovers. In addition, it could be a great selling point for attracting new tenants with safety concerns.
Potential Safety Threats for Tenants
● Weather
Despite humans not being able to exercise much control over it, the weather is often a considerable threat to tenants’ safety. Raging storms, unstoppable floods, and other major climate events could make your rental inhabitable in the short term. Besides such extreme cases, bizarre weather patterns could result in power outages, frozen pipes, and slippery grounds.
These scenarios could also threaten your tenants’ well-being while on your property. Thus, it would be wise to weatherproof your house where possible. You can also educate your tenants on the correct cause of action in an emergency.
● Accidents
Another potential safety threat for tenants is accidents. Despite our best interventions, accidents can and do happen. However, as a landlord or property manager, it is your job to limit the chances by removing preventable external factors. For example, if you notice that the hand railings on the stairwell are shaky, call a carpenter and have them fix them. Replace burnt-out light bulbs in public spaces, service your rental appliances, and check on your sensors to ensure they work. You can prevent many future accidents by proactively limiting the chances of something going wrong.
● Criminal Activity
Criminal activity is a constant danger that threatens the lives and property of your renters. Even if you live in a neighborhood with a low crime rate, it would still be best to adhere to appropriate security measures. If your location’s crime rates are exceptionally high, you must be even more cautious. Install and ensure that locks on your doors and windows are always working. You can also invest in a security system for rentals.
3 Tips to Keep Rental Property Safe
1. Install Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lights are one of the best preventative measures against accidents and criminal activities. Well-lit houses are less appealing to burglars and vandals as it increases their chances of being spotted while in action. Also, when tenants can see around the property clearly, it reduces the chances of accidental falls.
Thus, it would be wise to consider installing outdoor lights around the premises. This upgrade is also economically friendly because you can get cheap solar-powered or LED options that consume less electricity. Ideal spots for these installments include the front entrance, corners of the backyard, and places like the porch.
2. Use Secure Locks
Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good lock on your door. Ideally, that should include your back door and any other entrance to the house. You can use a deadbolt to improve security if you have some more bucks to spare.
3. Invest in Security Cameras
Another excellent tip to keep your rental property safe is to install security cameras around the premises. Surveillance can scare away potential burglars and vandals showing interest in your property. You can even invest in security decals that indicate the property is under 24/7 supervision to emphasize their presence.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article on a property manager’s guide to tenant safety helpful. As an expert in property management mount pleasant sc or landlord, you should prioritize your renter’s safety to maintain a good relationship with them, avoid legal action, and limit tenant turnover.
As we highlighted earlier, the most significant safety threats are weather, accidents, and criminal activity. Thus, some of the best ways to avoid these include installing outdoor lights, using secure locks, and investing in security cameras. Contact an expert property management tulsa ok if you need assistance protecting your tenants and their belongings.
