Halloween Tips for Landlords and Property Managers

Halloween is a fun time of year for many. The air is getting cooler, and people get to celebrate a holiday that people of all ages enjoy. As a landlord or property manager, you can tap into this and help ensure the fun and safety of your tenants around Halloween.

Plan an event

Halloween is known for parties and other types of events. Come up with a fun Halloween event, whether it is a party or a scary movie night, that your tenants can attend and get to know each other better. This is a great opportunity to help create a sense of community while celebrating a holiday. Allow your tenants to dress up for the event. You may even opt for a costume contest! Be sure to advertise your event ahead of time through social media, newsletters, and flyers.

Caution tape

While Halloween can be fun, people may be walking in various areas off paved pathways that may be newly landscaped or potentially dangerous. To prevent damage to your property or potential injuries, consider putting up caution tape to stop people from entering certain parts of your property and to encourage them to be careful. Some people may try to disregard the caution tape and tear it down, but most will respect the boundary and stay on paved areas.

Trick-or-treating

One of the most popular aspects of Halloween is trick-or-treating.  People love dressing up and going door to door for candy. As a landlord or property manager, you may opt to set designated trick-or-treat hours for your rental properties to ensure tenant safety as well as safety for kids. Having designated hours allows people to know when it is safe to drive. Encourage tenants who are open to trick-or-treaters to use their porch lights, and, if you can, remind trick-or-treaters in your area to only go to houses with porch lights on for trick-or-treating.

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Encourage safety practices

Just because it is Halloween, it does not mean being cautious and aware is not as important as it is on other days of the year. Encourage your tenants to practice good safety habits. Have them look through the peephole on their door to ensure those at the door are trick-or-treaters and not someone who may be more dangerous. Have your tenants be aware of potentially lost trick-or-treaters, but remind them that the kids may be wary of trusting them because the kids likely know about “stranger danger.”

Clear walkways and paths

Fall is a time when leaves are all over the ground. They can look festive and pretty, but they can be a safety hazard for those who are trick-or-treating at your properties. Before Halloween, take some time to clear walkways and pathways of any leaves and debris. If it rains before trick-or-treaters, the leaves may be slippery. This will allow those walking on your properties to do so safely. Again, use caution tape to block off any areas on the grass that have a lot of leaves and debris that you cleared from the walkways. Post signs stating that people should stay on the walkways for their safety.

Fire safety

Remind residents of fire safety guidelines. This is especially important because many people have bonfires and use flames in jack-o’-lanterns and candles. You may have a no-flame rule for this reason. If so, be sure to remind tenants and explain that it is for safety. Let them know of alternatives, such as flameless candles, that can have the same effect without the safety hazards. Remind tenants of the protocols in place in case a fire emergency takes place. This way, they are prepared in the event that something does happen, though they should be actively working to avoid it. Make sure each of your tenants has working smoke detectors.

Be on the lookout

Even if your tenants are not trick-or-treating and do not have anyone doing so at their rental, there could still be mischief that takes place on your properties. Have your tenants look for anything suspicious and have them check in with you. This is especially important if you have vacant properties or spaces. If you have security cameras in certain areas of your properties, check in with them every so often to make sure everything is okay and no mischief is happening.

Check lighting

Make sure your outdoor lighting is all functioning before Halloween night. This will make it safe for anyone walking on your properties to walk safely and reduce the risk of people being injured. This will also make any mischief that occurs easier to see. Make sure your indoor lighting is working as well. Dim lighting might seem fun and festive, but it can be a hiding spot for mischief and can cause people to get injured.

Halloween is a fun time for you and your tenants, but it can only be enjoyed if everyone is safe and mischief is kept to a minimum.