Fire Safety Tips to Share With Your Renters

Now that school is back in session and student housing units are occupied, landlords have a load of concerns on their backs. Rent collection, communication with tenants, and most importantly, fire safety. We are taught from an early age how to stop, drop, and roll, but that is about as far as it goes when it comes to fire prevention education. Yet, somehow they are a leading cause of tragedies in residential housing. As a property owner, this can be a daunting part of renting. No need to worry, they are entirely preventable when proper prevention plans are followed. This compiled list of fire safety tips has been specially curated to help you and your tenants avoid a disaster.

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1. Cook safely

According to the American Apartment Owners Association, firefighters respond to over 400 cooking-related fires daily. A few tips worth sharing with your tenants to prevent a fire from starting in the kitchen can save your property. First, never leave the stovetop or oven unattended when in use. Although this one tip can be mistaken for common sense, many people still take the chance to step away for just a few seconds. This second tip is simple, yet equally important. If a fire occurs, it is important to avoid water to smother an oil-related fire. The water will cause flames to engulf even more, leading to an uncontained flame. Instead, use a fire extinguisher or cover the flames if small enough. Lastly, it is a good idea to remind your tenants to keep all combustible materials at least 3 feet away from the stove.

2. Avoid open flame chaos

Candles, we know them and we love them. They are perfect to enhance an evening dinner or an at-home spa session. They are also another one of the top causes of residential fires. As landlords to college students, there is a good chance your tenants are using these decorative objects. It is crucial to ensure they are following the proper safety tips with open flames: 1) never leave the flame unattended 2) do not let a candle burn longer than a few hours, and 3) never put a candle flame near a curtain or flammable objects. In the event a fire is caused by a candle, it can usually be quickly put out if caught in time. This is a great opportunity for you to ensure all of the fire alarms in your rentals are working properly and are up-to-date.

3. Know when Space Heaters are being used

Space heaters are also another major cause of fires. In the wintertime, these handy items can be life-changing. Especially if you’re located in colder temperature areas. However, they can be very dangerous if not used properly. If your tenants do use space heaters, it is a good idea to require the appliance to have an automatic shut-off feature. This way, there is no chance of it being left on for too long or able to catch fire while the occupants are asleep. The Consumer Product Safety Commission encourages everyone to avoid placing space heaters on rugs or carpets and to only choose a heater tested by a nationally recognized laboratory.

4. Have the resources available

As much as we try to avoid them, accidents just happen. To keep your tenants safe, ensure the units and the residents are properly equipped to fight a fire if necessary. City ordinances on fire prevention require all residential facilities to have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, but there are other technologies out there worth suggesting. First, a fire blanket. These useful items can withstand up to 900 degrees and can be easily thrown on top of a flame to smother it and are relatively affordable as well. A second technology to keep around is a way to contact 911. Most of us have cell phones nowadays, but it’s not a bad idea to have a map available to your tenants that directs them to the nearest public phone in case it is the only option.

It is every property owner’s worst nightmare to experience a fire. Not only is their financial loss at stake, lives can be lost as well. There is no such thing as “too much” when it comes to talking to your tenants about fire safety and prevention. The best thing you can do for yourself and for them is to share these important tips and more, such as this list of ways to stay safe in the event of an actual fire. It is as easy as sending a text message, a quick phone call, or even an in-person visit. They will likely appreciate the conversation because it protects both parties from a catastrophe. In doing so, you can rest easy knowing your tenants are aware of the risks and precautions associated with residential fires.