5 Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Tenants Safe

Dustin Edwards • January 2, 2025

Ensuring your tenant is safe is both a responsibility as a landlord as well as a key to maintaining a successful rental property. While there are many expensive safety measures, there are also many affordable options that can significantly improve the security of your property and the piece of mind of your tenant. Keeping your tenants safe should also be seen as an investment in your rental property. This can foster trust in your tenant, resulting in a long-term stay.


Today we’ve outlined five inexpensive ways to keep tenants safe, showing that effective safety measures don't need to be expensive.


Upgrade Outdoor Lighting

Upgrading your outdoor lighting is a simple and incredibly effective way to improve tenant safety. Entryways, walkways, and parking areas should be well-lit as it not only improves visibility it serves as a deterrent to potential intruders. Wrongdoers are less likely to target a well-lit property making outdoor lighting crucial for a safer environment.


There are many inexpensive options that can be used to improve lighting without breaking the bank. String lights powered by small solar panels are a great way to add light and a warm atmosphere. Many outdoor lights have this solar panel feature meaning you can illuminate walkways, landscapes, and the perimeter of the property without needing to call an electrician. However, if your budget allows, consider motion-detecting spotlights that shine whenever someone is near.


Secure Doors and Windows

Windows and doors are common entry points for trespassers, simple upgrades can significantly improve your rental’s safety without requiring a large investment. While adding peepholes to exteriors was considered standard, now you can purchase a video doorbell for as little as fifty dollars which can use the existing doorbell wiring to function. However, if your property doesn't have a functioning doorbell for only a hundred dollars you can purchase wireless doorbell cameras that need to be recharged every few months. This gives you a way to see who’s at the door even when your tenants aren't home. These are also great detergents as they’re great security cameras as well.


For physical protection, consider installing window locks to help prevent them from being easily forced open. You can reinforce the durability of the entry door by installing sturdier strike plates with longer screws. Doing this can increase the resistance to forced entry which offers an extra layer of protection.


Up to Date Fire Safety Equipment

Keeping tenants safe involves more than simply securing the rental against intruders, fire safety is equally as important. It's important to ensure your rental property is equipped with functional and up-to-date fire safety equipment. A good start is smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. While a requirement to have these installed in all homes, many tenants and landlords allow batteries to die which makes these detectors ineffective. Batteries should be checked monthly and replaced either every year or as recommended by the manufacturer. This is to ensure the units meet legal standards to maintain their reliability and compliance with safety regulations.


 Another affordable feature you can provide is fire extinguishers. These typically range between twenty-five and and fifty dollars, they can be kept in areas considered high risk such as the kitchen, grill, or fireplace. They should be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer or roughly every ten years for disposable units, or recharged every six years for rechargeable extinguishers.


Exit Safety

While single-family homes are rather straightforward when exiting the rental during an emergency, multi-unit rentals need to have a clearly visible emergency exit plan. Simple signs showing a map with an ideal emergency exit route are crucial in protecting tenants. 


Additionally, you can improve exit safety by keeping emergency exits well-lit and unobstructed. Regular inspections of the walkways can help to ensure clutter, or other obstacles are in the way during an emergency. Being proactive with your tenant's safety can significantly improve your tenant's safety as well as your tenant-landlord relationship.


Landscaping for Security

Landscaping isn’t only for improving curb appeal, it has a crucial role in providing safety and privacy to your tenants. Although setting up a brand new landscape can be expensive, simply maintaining the existing landscape can be enough to provide these benefits. Keep shrubs and tree branches clear from windows and walkways to improve visibility.


Maintaining the plants near the front of the property also helps to maintain a clear line of sight for security cameras or motion sensors. A well-thought-out landscape design can improve your tenant’s safety while also maintaining a welcoming curb appeal.


A small investment in improving your tenant’s safety may seem insignificant at first, yet it has the potential to keep long-term tenants satisfied. Which can result in a beneficial impact on your bottom line. If you need help adding safety features to your rental or if you need help managing Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online.

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5 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Rental's Roof

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Your property’s roof is its first line of defense from the sun, rain, and wind. Which means it will eventually wear out. Many landlords overlook this since a roof is generally designed to last twenty or so years, and they simply forget until the signs begin to show. Below, we’ve compiled a short list of five signs it’s time to replace your roof for when doing property inspections. Tenant Complaints When your roof has become damaged, your tenants will likely be the first to notice. When tenants report water stains on the walls and ceilings, it's a sign that you should inspect your roof. In severe cases, your tenant may notice water dripping from roof leaks. This moisture, if left unchecked, can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can be a health concern for your tenants. Some tenants simply move out, assuming the odors or recurring respiratory issues are caused by the rental and not just the roof. This leaves you with a vacancy to manage, and if you’re unable to find the leak during this period, the following tenant may have a negative experience as well. Many landlords have found it beneficial to have property inspections regularly in order to preserve both the property’s value and the tenant’s trust. Roof’s Age Even with the highest quality materials, a roof still has a shelf life. Most roofs in Long Beach, CA, use asphalt shingles, and these generally last around twenty to twenty-five years. Once they've passed this threshold, the faults begin to show themselves. A sagging roof line is a sign that your roof is due to be replaced, as it's a serious concern. It often indicates that moisture has entered the underlying decking and caused some structural damage. From ground level, you may not be able to notice these problems. However, during an inspection of the property, an experienced inspector should be able to notice soft spots or contours on the roof. These forms of damage often get worse over time. Coordinating these inspections and preventative maintenance can be difficult for landlords with an extensive portfolio, which is why many enlist help. Shingle Damage Damaged shingles are one of the most obvious signs that your roof is deteriorating. If you ever notice cracking, curling, or patches with missing shingles, the roof is no longer providing adequate protection to your property. Although you can buy time with spot repairs, if the entire roof shows signs of damage, it’s likely time to replace the roof. Aside from protecting your property, the roof affects your property’s curb appeal. A patchy and worn-out roof can drive down the rental appeal. Prospective tenants will easily be able to spot the differences between pictures taken in the listing when compared to the property in person. This can not only hurt your chances of filling a vacancy, but it can also hurt your reputation as a landlord. Granules in Gutters After heavy rainfall, it's a good idea to inspect your rain gutters. If you or your property manager notice large amounts of black or gray granules, it means your roof shingles are breaking down. These granules are critical for shedding water off the roof. Once the granules fall off the shingle, the shingle begins to degrade faster under the sun and elements. If you’re not sure how old your roof may be, Loss of granules can be a strong indicator that your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. Regular gutter cleaning and roof inspections can help catch these problems early before they become expensive repairs . Increase in Utility Bills Your tenants complaining about their utility bills increasing or poor temperature control in the rental may not realize the roof is to blame. A failing roof can result in subpar insulation and ventilation. This can lead to higher heating and cooling bills for your tenant. This can be frustrating for your tenants while putting more strain on the HVAC system. This puts more wear and tear on your HVAC system. Being aware of the warning signs and being proactive can protect your rental property, maintain tenant satisfaction , and avoid emergency repairs. If you need help inspecting your roof or you need help managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .

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