As a property manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that you keep your tenants safe from slips and falls on your rental property this winter season. As winter season draws close, you need to put in extra effort to make sure your tenants are safe on your rental property.
In most cities, property managers can be sued if their tenants or a guest of their tenant slip or fall due to the property manager’s carelessness. To save yourself and your property management company from liability, it is important you take the following steps to protect your tenants from falls and slips.
5 Ways to Keep Your Tenants Safe from Slips and Falls
- Ensure Railings Are Safe
You need to constantly check the railings on decks, porches, and stairways to make sure they are safe and provide maximum safety to users. Having unstable railings on your rental property poses a great risk to your tenants and their guests. In case any of them experience fall using the railings, you can be sued for their injury.
Make sure that the railings provide enough stability especially for tenants who will lean on them. Even if you have checked the railings before, you can double-check just to be on a safe side.
- Take Care of the Walkways
Is the icy condition of the walkways making it difficult for your tenants to use them? If the walkways in your rental property are experiencing such condition every year, maybe it is time to do something about it this year.
You can make it safer by adding texture to your walkways and entrances. This will make it safer for your tenants and guests to use the walkways without the high risk of injury. You can achieve this by adding outdoor carpeting on slick wood steps, sand to your fresh coat of paint on your walkway or anti-slip tape on porches or stairways.
- Get Rid of organic Debris
Foliages can contribute to fall or slip if they are left lying around. During moderate or high winds, you need to keep an eye out for leaves and debris that may accumulate on your rental property. Note that this season can turn leaves into a slip hazard if it is wet. Get a maintenance crew to get rid of every organic debris from sidewalks and entryways to ensure your tenants’ safety.
- Clear Shrubs and Tree Branches
To boost safety in your rental property this season, you will need to trim any bushes that are impeding walkways. If tree roots branched into your walkway, you should seriously consider removing it or at least mark it to make it obvious to tenants and guests.
Check for tree branches that cause a tall unsuspecting tenant to fall. You will need to trim such branches to make your rental property environment safer for your tenants.
- Fill Holes in Grass
This is one disaster waiting to happen. Unfortunately, most people usually overlook this. Don’t assume that a tenant and their guest will not walk on the lawn. If your tenant is in a hurry, he may walk across the lawn. Any hole in the grasses can put him in danger of a fall. You will need to inform your maintenance crew to take care of holes that may be hidden from the glance of a person that is in hurry.
Conclusion
In most cases, most Glendale property managers don’t make checking for falls and slips their top priority. Remember that this is your responsibility and you can be sued if a tenant fall or slip due to your recklessness. Your tenants will appreciate the extra steps you take to keep them safe.
