When a landlord puts up a house, apartment or condo for rent, he does what he can to ensure that the tenant will be safe, but don’t take this to mean that you don’t have to do your own inspection of its safety against accidents and crime. Perform these safety checks to find out how safe you’ll be in your rental unit.
When people don’t quite have enough funds to purchase their own house, the best thing for them to do is to rent. On the other hand, it’s important not to sacrifice any essential element of your rental just to save money, least of all your protection.
Even if a landlord does what he can to install safety features to his house, apartment or condo for rent, you should still perform your own assessment of how well it will be able to protect you from harm, whether by accident or due to crime. These guidelines will assist you in making sure that your rental is in fact as safe as it can get.
Safety of the neighborhood
1. Find out if the community experiences regular occurrences of various crimes by asking the rental property’s manager, as well as checking with the local government.
2. Check if one of the owner’s procedures for screening tenants is asking them if they have a criminal record.
3. Find out if you will really feel safe in the property at nightfall by returning to it at night.
Protection from intruders
1. People who plan on living in a condo or apartment for rent should make sure that there are security personnel who will prevent outsiders with no business being in the building from coming in.
2. Has the landlord replaced the locks to the unit after the previous renter left? If not, are you allowed to do it yourself?
3. Make sure that there is a peep hole in the door so that you won’t have to open it to find out who’s at the door.
Safety from fires
1. Make sure that there is a functioning smoke detector installed in the house or unit.
2. It’s important that you be able to get out of your condo or apartment should an emergency arise, so make sure there are fire escapes and emergency exits all around the building.
3. Find out if there is anything in the rental that puts it in greater risk of an accidental fire, such as if you’ll need to use extension cords permanently because there aren’t enough sockets and if there are socket and light switch covers that are broken or have burn marks.
Protection for children
1. If the apartment or condo has a swimming pool, make sure that it has childproof gates to prevent your children from accessing it without an adult present.
2. Windows should have childproof locks installed to keep the kids from opening them and accidentally falling out while at play.
Staying Safe in Your Apartment
If you’re still in the process of looking for an apartment, make security one of your priorities, and be sure to let the landlord know any safety issues you may have about his apartment. While renting a unit, don’t be a victim to anyone; always pay attention to the things that you’re doing and keep an eye out for anything and anyone shady around your apartment.
Relocating With Your Children
Taking these suggestions to heart will help make sure that they won’t dread moving away and will look forward to it instead.
Assessing a Buyer’s Purchase Offer
Homeowners who put their houses up for sale before know all too well that you shouldn’t expect to get exactly the amount that you put on your property. With this in mind, some sellers might settle for a buyer’s offer even if it’s less than what they want, particularly if their home has been in the market for a long time.
