One of your responsibilities as a leasing agent is ensuring the tenants’ safety. You are not only offering them a home to live in but a safe one at that. You must know the different measures to take in making sure that unfortunate events do not happen.
When talking about safety, it is not only about having a security system that works. Accidents may also happen that are not caused by humans. For example, natural calamities or fire accidents can also harm the tenants. Because of this, landlords install smoke detectors and provide emergency instructions for the tenants.
Another type of accident is carbon monoxide poisoning. You might not know this, but hundreds of people die from it per year. Carbon monoxide poisoning has sent thousands of people to the hospital.
Carbon monoxide is a type of gas that is lethal if inhaled for long periods. It is odorless and colorless, which makes it hard to detect. Luckily, carbon monoxide detectors now exist and are found in the market. Here are some of the things you should know about carbon monoxide detectors.
• Carbon monoxide at home
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced from stoves, gas ranges, charcoal, and lanterns, to name a few. These items I mentioned are found in a property, right? Having these items increase the odds of CO poisoning.
If a tenant inhales heavy amounts of carbon monoxide, it will cause him to pass out or die. which we don’t want to happen. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, fatigue, chest pain, and vomiting.
• Signs of a carbon monoxide leak in the property
Since CO is odorless and colorless, how can you tell that there is a presence of it? Here are some of the things to watch out for in a home.
• Yellowish or brownish stain found on the leaking appliance.
• A burning smell in the air.
• Presence of soot in fireplaces or chimneys.
• Carbon monoxide detectors at home
The best way to prevent CO poisoning is to invest and install detectors. These are similar to smoke detectors. Although, the landlords must follow their local state laws about installation. Some states have laws on where to install CO detectors and how often they should change the batteries. Landlords should also familiarize themselves with these laws to serve as their guide.
Some of the states which require CO detectors are Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, California, New York, and several others. Make sure that the rental homes you advertise have carbon monoxide detectors in them.
You must remind landlords that they cannot install carbon monoxide detectors just anywhere. CO detectors are mounted inside bedrooms and other living areas. Installing sensors in the kitchen will expose them to substances that can contaminate them. It will also cause the detectors to activate the alarm often because gas appliances emit carbon monoxide during startup. If they must install one near an appliance, mount it at least 15 feet away.
To care for CO sensors, the landlords must change the batteries, as needed, and make sure that it is not covered in dust. It is also a good idea to replace old sensors or add new ones.
Investing in gadgets for the tenants’ safety is highly recommended. If you know of landlords who are not familiar with CO detectors, you can introduce them to those items. Aside from it being a requirement, having CO detectors can also boost the property’s quality. Just wait and see. Once you post the property listing at Padleads and have it syndicated to other websites, people will likely bring up the subject. The safety features are an added bonus to a beautiful property. What more can they ask for?