One of the things a lot of landlords don’t think about and a lot of property managers don’t do is to rekey the rental property between tenants. In Virginia, it’s not a law, and in a number of states it’s not a law, but in about 17 states it is a legal requirement to rekey your property between tenants. My feeling is that even though it’s not a law here, it’s still a really good idea. It protects you as a landlord against liability and it keeps your tenants safe. Probably, nothing would ever happen but there’s always a chance that someone out there might have a key and come back and steal something or do something horrible. No one wants that to happen, but you can’t be too careful. There are some great cost effective solutions that can be managed to get the property a new key. It’s the best money you will ever spend, and a good option to think about.
Another thing to do to protect your tenant is to make sure all your smoke detectors are working. Carbon monoxide detectors are not an absolute requirement but they are a very good idea and if you have them, you want to make sure those work as well. Smoke detectors are required by law, and there are different requirements depending on when home was built. Again, go beyond what the law requires. If you’re in doubt, put an extra smoke detector in. It can’t hurt. Check those detectors on an ongoing basis to make sure they’re working. We recommend testing a smoke detector with real smoke. There are products on the market you can use like canned smoke. There are also companies that will check them out for you and certify the smoke detectors you have. That gives you an extra layer of protection. Don’t just check the battery. Check the detector as well and make sure it’s working properly.
Always check the systems in your house like your water heater, HVAC, plumbing and electrical. Those need to work correctly and efficiently to ensure your tenants and your property are protected. You don’t want a gas leak to cause damage to your house or your tenants. Lastly, make sure your doors and locks are all working properly. They should function well and keep people out of the house who are not meant to be there.
If you have any questions, or you want a few referrals on how to ensure everything in your house is safe for your tenants, please contact us at Richey Property Management and we’d be happy to talk with you.
