6 Ways to Secure Your Rental Property

Landlords have an obligation to secure their rental properties from break-ins and theft and ensure that their tenants feel safe in their homes. It would be best to avoid a scenario where your tenants get upset by constant break-ins and leave, causing you a loss of rental income. Not only that, you need to protect your property as your business asset from expensive break-in damages.

When your rental property is secure, you will improve your tenants' experience, increase your rental value, cut down on repair costs from break-n damages, and secure your rental income flow. We have compiled six safety tips that you can apply to keep your rental property secure.

   1.   Recognize the weak spots around the rental and secure them

The first step towards securing your property against illegal invasion is by securing the exterior. Take a tour around your property and assess possible break-in points from a burglar’s perspective. Remove any unnecessary clutter and trim overgrown plants around the property that would otherwise provide cover for thieves.

Secure the exterior and entry doors, windows, and porches. They should be made of heavy-duty materials like steel. Install security bars and shutters on the windows, preferably with options that can serve both privacy and stylish functions. Visit the nearest Doors Plus store for the best doors and door accessories.

   2.   Have proper indoor and outdoor lighting

Burglars and thieves thrive in shadows and darkness. Light up your property, as this is one of the easiest ways of preventing break-ins. The lights on the hallways and stairwells should always be lit and brightly so. Keep the lights on the porch, front and back doors on. For the outdoor lights, you can choose to keep them on always or incorporate the motion-activated ones.

   3.   Install security cameras

For increased security, install security cameras in and around the property, especially where it is multi-family. Place them on all the common areas like the front and back entrance, stairwells, hallways, and any other places you may deem necessary. However, you can’t have them placed inside the tenants’ apartments as they are entitled to reasonable privacy. Secure properties are more attractive to tenants.

   4.   Secure the internal apartment doors

Besides having the main entrance and back doors to the property secured, you also need to secure the main doors of each apartment. Each tenant’s door should have a peephole through which they can see the outside without opening the door, chains locks, and deadbolt locks on the entrance door for extra security.

Consider installing an intercom system through which tenants can communicate with people on the front entrance and buzz trusted guests into the building.

   5.   Employ security guards

The option of hiring security guards for your property is ideal where you have a large complex. The guards screen people walking in through the main entrance, monitor the building through CCTV cameras and also look around the property from time to time.

   6.   Screen your tenants before leasing

You should screen all potential tenants thoroughly before letting them sign the lease contract. Do a background check on them and find out if they have had a criminal past. Check the nature of the activities and work they engage in to assess their level of risk appropriately. Protect the tenants from the risk of having a criminal living amongst them.

Endnote

Even as you go over and beyond to ensure your tenants are safe, they too have a role to play. Talk to them about your expectations of them as far as security is concerned. Remind them that they have a responsibility to keep their apartments and property secure. You can set up a social platform for the tenants to encourage interaction and community spirit; that way, they can watch out for each other.