How to Know if Your Rental Meets Safety Standards

As a landlord, you know that it’s one of your main responsibilities to make sure your rental property is clean, safe, and comfortable for your tenants. You want to make sure your property consistently meets safety standards so your residents are happy and your property maintains its value over time.

Performing consistent property inspections is a good practice to adopt for property maintenance and damage prevention. This also helps you meet safety standards since you can identify issues when you walk through the property, which can help you save on high repair fees in the future.

Making sure your rental property is safe can also help you retain long-term renters. People will always prioritize safety. Keep reading to learn ways you can improve your rental’s safety standards to inspire tenants to renew their leases and stay longer.

1. Take a Proactive Approach to Pest Control

Pest infestation is a common issue at all types of properties, whether they’re rentals or not. As a landlord, you need to be ready to act if tenants complain about pests since infestations can make living in the space uncomfortable. Additionally, pest infestation can also damage your rental property.

Schedule regular extermination to get rid of any pests living in your unit. If you are consistent, you will have to deal with the problem less frequently over time.

2. Focus on Paint Safety

If your property was constructed before 1978, there is a higher risk of lead paint being used in the building process. As a landlord, you are required to disclose this potential issue to all renters. Lead paint can have a detrimental effect on your renters’ health, especially if your renters have small children.

If your property does have lead paint, work with professionals to resolve the issue and limit any adverse effects as soon as possible. This is also why it’s important to ask tenants to let you know if they’d like to make any changes to the property that would potentially disturb lead paint.

3. Ensure Appliances Are Functioning Properly

Another way to reduce complaints from tenants is by making sure your appliances are in good working order. A broken plug or wire can be a fire hazard and a general safety hazard for your renters.

When you do inspections, pay attention to the state of your appliances and review each item’s condition and wear and tear. You should also keep a record of when you purchased them and be aware of the lifespan of each product. If you choose high-quality appliances when you initially install them, you’ll have to replace them less often and deal with fewer maintenance issues.

4. Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

State laws require that rental property owners place a carbon monoxide and smoke detector in their rental properties. Installing these alarms keeps your tenants and property safe.

As a landlord, you need to schedule regular testing to make sure that these items are functional. Make sure tenants know how to replace batteries and get in touch with you if anything stops working.

5. Check for Damage to the Floors, Walls, and Ceilings

Structural safety is important and property owners should be aware of building codes to keep their units safe for residents. Keep an eye on the condition of the floors, walls, ceilings, and roof. If you notice that the floors are beginning to slope or become uneven over time, you should contact a foundation repair specialist.

Cracks in the wall or ceiling, bubbling paint, and peeling wallpaper can also indicate possible foundation issues or water damage. The impact of water damage can be expensive and can significantly damage the property and anything inside it. Make sure you stress the importance to your tenants of reporting these problems to you as soon as they notice them.

6. Keep an Eye on Electrical Safety

You need to comply with the current electrical safety codes to keep your renters safe. Electrical malfunction can be risky and can cause damage to your property. Make sure your property has been inspected by certified professionals to ensure that it meets the safety standards.

7. Address Plumbing Issues

As mentioned earlier, water damage can be expensive so landlords must pay close attention to their pipes and ensure that they’re working as they should. If your tenant reports a leak, make sure to have it repaired right away, even if it seems minor. You can tenant complaints and protect the condition of your rental property at the same time.

Another way to avoid leaks is to consistently maintain the gutters to ensure they’re draining properly. After a windy day, you might find dirt or leaves piling up in your gutters, so you need to clean them to prevent water from being redirected to your property.

8. Inspect Heating and Cooling Systems

Given that HVAC systems are important for your tenants' safety during Midland summer, you need to have your heating and cooling systems inspected periodically and fix or replace anything that isn’t working properly. Keeping these systems in good shape can prevent potential fire hazards and keep your tenants safe from intense weather conditions.

Bottom Line

Keeping your rental space in line with local safety standards is one of your main duties as a landlord. You need to be well-versed in local safety and building codes to ensure that you provide a safe living space for your residents. This is a continuous process that involves periodic inspections, scheduling repairs, and staying in touch with your renters.

If you want to offload the responsibility of maintenance requests, repairs, and tenant satisfaction, work with a trusted property management company! McCourt Real Estate & Property Management makes owning a rental property in Midland easy.

McCourt Real Estate & Property Management supports landlords in maintaining their properties by performing consistent and detailed property inspections. We also offer strategic, meticulous tenant screening, timely rent collection, and more. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!