As a landlord, you are responsible for providing a habitable environment for your tenants. That means that your property should not be a hazardous place. You should take care of any safety concerns before your tenant moves in to avoid lawsuits and future damage to the property. Some new rental property owners and landlords do not know how to make sure that their properties are safe for tenants. This article should help you with safety tips for rental properties, so you can put your Richmond rental property on the market without worrying that it will collapse on some future tenant.
Keeping the Property and Tenants Safe
Tenant safety in your rental property should be your utmost concern as a landlord. If anything seems amiss in your rental property, no matter how small, you should always get a professional opinion before renting out your property to any tenants. Better safe than sorry is a great policy for landlords where tenant safety is concerned. Before a tenant moves in and after a tenant moves out, you should perform a safety check to ensure that everything in the property is still safe.
This safety check should be a thorough investigation of both the inside and outside of the rental property. Check the doors to ensure that they open smoothly, latch, and lock. Malfunctioning doors can cause fire hazards or welcome intruders. If a light does not turn on immediately when the switch is flipped, faulty wiring could be the cause. This is another fire hazard. Faulty wiring can also be indicated by outlets with scorched or dangling wires.
Clogged chimneys provide yet another fire risk. Cleaning the chimneys between tenants should eliminate this fire hazard. Walls, floors, and ceilings should be inspected for water damage. Water damage can lead to additional property damage, mold, or rot. Sloping floors are also problematic as they could mean that the property’s structural integrity has been compromised. These structural issues should be repaired immediately. Regularly check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure that they are functioning properly.
Have your HVAC system inspected annually to extend the life of your heater and air conditioner and ensure its safety. Remove lint from the washer and dryer to eliminate another fire hazard.
Turn on the burners and the oven to make sure that it is functioning properly. Check the refrigerator temperature. Make sure that the dishwasher, garbage disposal, and other kitchen appliances are working as they should. Check the water heater temperature and make sure that it is not too hot. Test the safety relief valve once a year to flush out sediment build-up.
Make sure stairs are anti-slip and the railings are secure inside and outside of the house. Landscape the yard to eliminate hiding places for nefarious criminals. Provide good exterior lighting for safety. Windows should close and lock securely. Finally, inspect the roof. Make sure shingles are secure to prevent water damage. It is best to have a roofing professional to complete this step.
Does That Sound Like a Lot of Work?
If all of that seems hard to handle, it is better to delegate the work than it is to neglect it. Hiring a reputable property maintenance company, like Keyrenter Richmond, could be the perfect solution. Keyrenter performs property inspections to ensure that properties are safe and secure, so your tenants stay safe and you never have to worry about a lawsuit. Give us a call today and find out what we can do for you.