Top 8 Safety Tips for Landlords and Tenants

Shot of an apartment's fire escape for top safety tips for landlords and tenants

When it comes to creating an ideal renting experience, safety tips for landlords and tenants are top of mind. A safely maintained property can provide peace of mind for both landlords and tenants.

To ensure that both parties are satisfied with the state and safety of the rental property, landlords need to ensure their property is safe and regularly maintained. And also that tenants are trustworthy enough to be trusted with the property. On the other side, tenants are there to uphold the rental’s condition and report promptly on any issues.

Many disputes and future problems can be mitigated by following safety tips for landlords and tenants.

Important Safety Tips for Landlords and Tenants

Keeping everyone and everything safe and satisfactory is the mere essence of each rental deal.

Since both sides are strangers to each other, adequate safety and security regulations must be in order. Of course, state landlord tenant laws regulate most of the matters already.

However, it’s important to ensure you’ve gone over residential safety regulations. So, without further ado, here are some safety tips for landlords and tenants to keep in mind.

Safety Tips for Landlords

In general, landlords have to make sure their property meets safety standards and building codes. There should be no safety and health hazards like defective equipment or gas leaking, for example. As a landlord, you are responsible for your property and the safety of all residents. You also need to check who will live there, for your own, your property, and other tenant’s safety.

Screen Potential Tenants before Renting

Before you allow someone to live on the property, it’s necessary to do some tenant screening. Running a tenant background check and assessing eviction, criminal, and credit reports can help ensure you’re starting off on the right foot with keeping yourself and your property safe.

Level Up Your Security

Without a doubt, security goes hand in hand with safety. Make sure to take certain precautions—whether you’re renting or renting out a place:

  • A good starting point would be the main doors. A solid and high-quality door can help ensure the property is secured from breaking in.
  • Also, don’t forget the windows. The locking mechanism is a practical solution to prevent them from opening from the outside.
  • Outdoor lights are a useful yet simple way to increase safety, especially if you rent a house.
  • Security cameras, alarms, sensors, and other systems are an inevitable part of every modern home’s safety precautions.

These might be simple solutions, but they make a significant difference to safety. It will deter potential criminal activities and make your tenants feel safe.

Two cameras that set on the corner of the residential building.
Visible surveillance system can help deter potential thieves.

Regularly Maintain the Property

Regular maintenance is a necessary part of the job. Besides the initial checks, you are responsible to react in case something needs fixing. In general, it’s better to respond in time than to leave it to chance because serious accidents may happen. Just make sure you are clear with your and your tenants’ obligations from the start.

Fulfill Any Emergency Prerequisites

Every residential building needs an emergency plan. In the worst-case scenario, there should be building safety protocols for residents to follow. You can accomplish this by:

  • Making sure the property has a clearly visible number on the outside.
  • Placing smoke detectors and alarms throughout the entire property.
  • Ensuring there is more than one exit from the property, including windows exit points.
  • Clearing the entire escape route and keeping it that way.

Besides establishing these safety measures, take the time to explain them to your tenants as they are settling in.

Have Proper Insurance in Place

To protect your property and everything on it, you will need adequate insurance.For landlords, landlord insurance offers protection over the rental dwelling in case of emergency, damage, or liability. While we can always predict or control what the future holds, landlord insurance can help mitigate costs should any emergency or damages occur to your rental investment.

Safety Tips for Tenants

As a tenant, the first thing you need to get familiar with is your tenant rights. Even though the property is not your own, the law guarantees a couple of things.

Firstly, it protects you from unfair treatment and grants you rights privacy-wise. Also, it defines you and your landlord’s obligations and saves you from unnecessary costs.

In addition, before moving in, all tenants should get the information they need. So don’t hesitate to ask your landlord questions. Once you are familiar with this, you can make use of the next couple of tips.

Perform a Basic Inspection of the Property

Before, during, and after a lease signing—inspections are important. Make sure everything on the property is in proper condition. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Inspecting the structural integrity of the property. You inspect floors, walls, ceilings, insulation, pipes, and everything similar.
  • Check HVAC system, chimneys, windows, heaters, and other environmental settings as well.
  • Next, make sure security and electrical systems and installations function properly.
  • Proceed by checking storage spaces and garbage disposals.
  • Ensure all the appliances are in working condition.

Also, if the property has any outdoor additions, inspect them as well. Usually, garages/storage, fences, steps, outdoor lighting, and weather protective measures are also included in this inspection.

Air conditioners below windows on one of the buildings.
Even though it may look like everything is alright, make sure to check your airconditioner’s functionality.

Ask for the Rental’s Inspection Inventory

While checking the property, make sure to check its inventory too. Ask your landlord to give you the list of inventory. This usually includes the entire furniture, appliances, and any other objects that come with the property. To ensure getting your deposit back, don’t forget to inspect each item’s condition on the list.

Ask for Repairs on Time

Most of the repairs and maintenance requests should be handled by landlords and maintenance professionals.

So make sure to tell them something needs their attention the moment you notice it. Avoid trying to do repairs on your own, even if you think it’s an easy DIY. If the “fix” inadvertently makes the issue worse, you could be held responsible.

Get Insurance Coverage

Similar to landlords, one of the best safety tips for tenants is to ensure they have the proper renter’s insurance.

For tenants, renters insurance covers you in case your personal property is damaged or stolen or if someone is injured in your rental.

No matter how well you prepare, sometimes things just happen. But by following these tips, you will minimize the safety risks and mitigate the weight of consequences if something bad occurs.