Landlord and tenant disputes often center around elements that have to do with the tenant’s safety. By law, property owners need to ensure their homes are habitable and free from hazards that might compromise their renters’ health and safety. However, with so many factors to consider, it’s possible to forget one or two things that might pose a threat.
In this article, we’ve compiled the ultimate rental property safety checklist that will make your routine inspections easier.
The exterior of the house
While your tenants will spend most of their time indoors, as a landlord, you have to ensure the exterior of your house is just as safe.
- Everything from the roof to the foundation must be in perfect condition.
- The windows and doors should be well-fitted, lock properly, and include all the necessary hardware.
- Walls should be weatherproof,
- Stairs should be secure, and so on.
Living room
When we move into the house’s interior, one of the first spaces we have to talk about is the living room.
- It’s the central area, so you should fix structural defects in the ceilings, walls, and floor.
- Ensure that the furniture pieces aren’t blocking any vents,
- Keep the entryway to other parts of the house accessible.
Kitchen
The kitchen is of high priority for safety because it’s where most home accidents occur.
- So again, it would be best if you looked out for structural defects.
- Adopt a kitchen style that keeps the sink and electrical appliances away from each other.
- You also have to double-check the integrity of wiring and plumbing.
- If you’re doing a kitchen remodel, the walls and floors should be waterproof.
- Install a backsplash tile.
- Test and replace the batteries in smoke detectors as needed.
- Also, make sure the garbage disposal isn’t blocked.
Bathroom
The bathroom is another place where home accidents are common, so to guarantee safety, you should:
- Ensure the walls are waterproof to maintain sanitation.
- Install a sink near each toilet that has both hot and cold water.
- Make sure there’s at least one shower on the property with hot and cold water.
- Ensure the room is well lit
- Check for hidden problems in the plumbing.
- Install appropriate bathroom accessories such as grab bars, drain covers, and others.
Bedroom
The bedroom is where your tenants can enjoy some much-needed privacy from the rest of the household, relax, and of course, sleep.
- Ensure the ceiling, walls, and floor are free from structural defects
- The windows and doors should have effective hardware such as hinges, handles, and locks.
- If there’s a balcony, you need to secure it with a lock.
- The switchboards and lighting need to be properly installed.
Conclusion
Safeguarding the safety and health of your tenants is your legal responsibility. Besides, ensuring an ideal safety standard often involves keeping up with maintenance, and increasing your home’s resale value. Understandably, running through a checklist for an entire house can be tiring, especially if you have multiple properties. If you find such a task challenging, you can rely on an expert property manager to do it for you.
