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Security And Safety Tips For Rental Properties

Hello, property and potential property owners! Welcome to the RPM Distinguished Care blog, where we provide practical advice about property management! If you’re a return visitor, welcome back. We sincerely appreciate your support! RPM Distinguished Care specializes in managing successful rental properties in and around the Charleston area. We’re here to make your lives easier by giving you the resources you need to maximize profitability and have a successful rental property. We provide comprehensive property management services at every conceivable level. From advertising and marketing to responding to applications, to inspecting and maintaining properties–there’s nothing we do not do. Further, we ensure tenant compliance, handle necessary evictions, and report directly back to you about revenue and profit potentials. We aim to make owning rental property as easy for you as possible, for as little money as possible. Check out the rest of our site to meet our team and discover what makes RPM Distinguished Care the best property management company in Charleston!

 

In our last post, we discussed pool maintenance and safety. Having a pool is a great amenity for a rental property– It can make tenants happier, comfortable, and more relaxed, and it can add value to your property. As a landlord or property manager, it is your responsibility to keep up with pool maintenance and safety, but the tenant has some responsibilities as well. We discussed the most important pool-related responsibilities that should be clearly outlined in the lease agreement. If you are interested in learning more, check out our last post!

 

Today, we’ll be talking about security and safety tips for rental properties. Owning a rental property can be a lot of work, and as a landlord, you’ll want to make sure both your property and your tenants stay safe. Additionally, it is your responsibility as a landlord to make sure the property is secure. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to do this. If you are interested in learning more, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

 

Screen Tenants Thoroughly

 

Before you get tenants moved into your rental property, you– of course– need to find them first. When you start advertising for your property and gaining interest, you’ll have applications to go through on your search to find the perfect tenant. But how do you find the perfect tenant? The answer lies within the screening process. The screening process is meant to provide you with all of the information you need about a potential tenant. Conducting a tenant screening can help you avoid headaches down the road, such as late payments, non-payment, property damage, and eviction. Ultimately, the screening process determines someone’s ability to satisfy a financial obligation– It does not determine whether they are a “good” or “bad” person. Some of the criteria of a tenant screening include a background check, minimum credit score, a consistent credit history, and proof of employment, among other things. Checking these things can help ensure that you’re letting the right tenant into your rental property.

 

Get An Insurance Policy

 

When renting out your home or any other property, you’ll want to have a good insurance policy in place. There are a variety of policies out there, and we’ve covered the topic of landlord vs homeowners insurance in a previous blog, but let’s go over some of the key points. If the property serves as your primary residence, you’ll want to get homeowners insurance. But if you’re going to rent out your home, or a second home, for an extended period of time, you’ll want landlord insurance. 

 

  • Homeowners insurance covers your home and personal property (your personal property, not a tenant’s) as well as legal and medical payments if someone is injured at your home and you are found liable. It can help repair or replace your home or personal property if they are damaged by things like fire or theft. 
  • Landlord insurance typically covers the building itself, as well as other structures on the property. Unlike homeowners insurance, landlord insurance includes protection such as loss-of-income or loss-of-rent coverage. Personal property coverage is typically not included in landlord insurance. If tenants want to protect their personal belongings, they’ll need to get a renter’s insurance policy. 

 

In the case of renting a property out on a regular basis, we recommend that you opt for landlord insurance. 

 

Hire A Property Manager

 

Keeping an eye on your rental property while you are away, if you live farther away, or if you have a busy schedule, can be difficult. This is just one of the many reasons why you should hire a property management company! A property manager is generally responsible for screening tenants, keeping an eye on the property and monitoring it, collecting rent, and more. They are responsible for the tenant’s overall safety as well– Safety includes things like hazards on the property and providing necessary protections to keep residents safe on the property and in their homes.

 

Upgrade The Lighting

 

Enhancing the lighting around the exterior of your rental property is a great way to deter burglars or others roaming around the property with malicious intent. No one with the intent to commit a crime wants a spotlight shining on them, but this doesn’t mean any old light– You need to place motion-activated lights strategically. This includes the entrance from the street, the garage, the back door, and the backyard. If you have multiple rental properties, such as an apartment complex, you’ll want to consider installing street lights throughout the complex to keep things lit up at night.

 

Encourage Tenants To Follow Best Practices

 

One of the best things you can do is educate your tenants and encourage them to follow best practices for safety. For example, things like changing smoke alarm batteries can be left up to the tenant. If a property manager has hundreds of properties to manage, it can be labor intensive to check all of the smoke alarms. Therefore, you can leave this up to the tenant and even outline their responsibility in the lease. The good thing about this is that the batteries in these alarms can last years! Additionally, you can send friendly reminders to tenants about practices such as keeping their doors locked or reminding them to notify you of any maintenance-related issues. For example, if your property management company sends out newsletters, this is a good time to share any safety tips that may be helpful for your tenants.

 

These are just a few of the basic security and safety precautions that landlords should take to keep both their tenants and property safe. We hope you found this article helpful. If you are a rental property owner looking for assistance in managing your property, feel free to reach out to us! RPM Distinguished Care specializes in residential property management and offers a range of services including communication, marketing, and advertising, thorough tenant screening and selection, full-service leasing, timely rent collection, regular evaluations, cost-effective and reliable maintenance, strict and compliant evictions, and comprehensive accounting. We utilize an online portal for owners to keep track of their property, including access to reports and financial statements. With over 30 years of experience, we know how to keep your property at its best. We believe in full-service and comprehensive property management. That’s why we take the time to understand each of our clients and help identify their most closely-held goals. Let us give you peace of mind that your property is in good hands. Use our website to request your free assessment and meet with our expert team! Thank you for taking the time to read this article and we hope to hear from you soon! See you next time!

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

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