As an owner of a rental property, you need to not only provide a roof over your tenants’ heads but also protect them from robberies, unauthorized entries and other unsafe events. In order to keep your renters and your rental property secure, it is one of your biggest priorities to improve the overall security with effective measurements such as adding light sources, enhancing doors and window security, as well as performing intensive tenant screening before leasing.
By protecting your rental property well, you will not only safeguard your property, but also greatly improve your tenants’ overall experience. This in turn will lead to a more sustainable and successful rental business. Managing a rental business like Rentola is not an easy task to do alone, hence for people who want to generate profit from rental properties while also saving time and effort there are many specialized property management companies on the market. These companies will directly deal with prospects and tenants, saving time and worry over marketing your rentals, collecting rent, handling maintenance and repair issues, responding to tenant complaints, and most importantly they will deal with the security of your rentals.
To help all of the landlords out there who are looking to protect their house, here are some effective ways to improve your rental property’s security.
Identify Potential Vulnerable Spots Around Your Rental Property
One of the best ways to actively prevent robberies and illegal entries is to look at your rental property through a burglar’s point of view. For instance, you can try to walk outside and put yourself into a burglar’s shoes to come up with possible points of entry to your rental property. Vulnerable points of a property for break-ins and robberies can be an open skylight or window that is normally left open for ventilation purposes, or an easy-to-break glass panel door. The security experts at https://ccsecurityservices.co.uk/residential-security/ explain that it is often better to have a professional look at possible weaknesses in your securities as they are experienced at identifying potential vulnerabilities. If any are identified, they will then be able to advise you as to the best way to secure these issues to keep your property safe.
Do a Careful Tenant Screening before Leasing
Aside from outsiders with unlawful intentions, there are crimes in rental properties that are caused by the tenants themselves. Therefore, it is best for landlords to carefully screen each potential tenant first before signing a leasing contract. This can decrease the chances of your tenants performing illegal activities such as drug dealing, assault, or robbery at your property. Having a background check on each tenants’ criminal past can give you some information to evaluate your tenant’s level of risks. Remember that as a landlord, it is your responsibility to provide a safe and secure living environment to other tenants that may live in other units of your rental property so screen every single individual thoroughly.
Secure the Entrances to Your Rental Property
Entry points and exit doors at rental properties should be made of heavy-duty, solid materials such as wood and steel to lower the risks of criminals breaking in. Doors with glass panels that are easily broken are not recommended. For example, stainless steel doors are widely used In addition to its steel components, a multi-point locking system and glazed leaf provide increased resistance to damage or interference. A stainless steel door is ideal for buildings where security is paramount, including bin stores, electrical cupboards, safe rooms, and other rooms containing hazardous or confidential documentation. Aside from standard locks, doors should have deadbolt locks to make it more difficult for burglars to break into your rental property. Chain locks on each apartment’s door have been proven to be helpful in providing extra protection to tenants, and you should also install peepholes so they know who is at their door. Steel guttering can also prove effective with these types of risks.
Secure all Windows in Your Rental Property
No matter how well you secure the entry points to your property, your tenants will still be at risk if you don’t pay sufficient attention to securing every window. It is highly recommended that you install working locks on all windows whether it is on the first or third floor. For many rental properties, security bars are installed to add more protection to tenants, particularly on low floors.
Increase Lighting Sources at Your Rental Property
As no burglar wants to be in the spotlight, lighting options such as motion-detecting lights placed at strategic spots including garage doors, entrances and carparks can greatly discourage burglars or other criminals. Remember to install proper lighting not only outside of your rental property but also inside as well. Make sure that all stairwells and hallways are adequately lit so that your tenants feel safe at all times.
Post Emergency Numbers On Common Areas and Inside Tenants’ Rooms
Knowing the correct emergency numbers and having important numbers available are important for all tenants in case of an emergency. Important emergency numbers that you should post for your tenants include the number of the local police department, the security or management firm which oversees the property, and your emergency contact number. Places you can post these numbers include common areas and on the back of apartments’ doors.
As a landlord, property rental is a business that requires you to handle a wide range of responsibilities, of which the safety and security of your tenants are the top priority. Improve the security of your rental property to avoid breaches and ensure your tenants’ experience with our recommendations. Remember that these security measurements can both make your property safer and appeal better to potential tenants as well.
