And holiday lights and other decorative lights caused nearly 150 fires per year in that same period with an average of eight deaths, 14 injuries and $8.5 million in property damage.

Some of the top causes of the Christmas tree fires include:

• Electrical problems (33%)
• Heat source too close to the tree (20%)
• Decorative lights (13%)
• Candles (11%)

Help keep your tenants safe. Prepare a safety letter with fire prevention tips and make sure that each tenant gets one. Be sensitive to tenants’ various religious practices, and use non-denominational language.

Include the following tips in your notice:

• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for using holiday lights.
• Lights with loose cords, loose bulb connections and frayed, worn or broken cords should not be used.
• Lights should not be on when you are not at home. Unplug lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use candles on or near a tree.
• Place the tree at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, space heaters and heat vents
• If using a live tree, cut several inches off the base of the trunk before placing it in the tree stand and water it daily. Recycle the tree when it begins dropping needles. Don’t leave a dried-out tree in a storage area or against the building.
• Make sure you have a working smoke detector. Contact the rental office if you need to have yours checked.

Check with your local fire department for additional tips. It only takes a few minutes to prepare this notice and to help your tenants stay safe during the holiday season. Avoid the tragedy of a house or apartment fire.

Keep tenants safe with proper deadbolt locks.

Nobody wants to receive a phone call like a landlord we know recently did: “I just slipped on some wet leaves and tore the ligaments in my knee.” Luckily, this landlord has plenty of insurance to cover just such an incident—but as everyone knows, making an insurance claim can lead to higher rates or even cancellation.

Landlords and property managers must do their due diligence when it comes to keeping tenants safe. Being prepared and performing a little hard work can go a long way to preventing problems that lead to injuries, lawsuits, and losses.

First, make sure your properties have sufficient locks on all the doors and windows. Deter criminals with good lighting, and keep shrubs away from windows. Make sure your tenants understand the importance of key control, and advise them in writing against venturing out alone—especially if the neighborhood is historically sketchy. Don’t rely on tenants to alert you to broken locks or burned-out lights. Do your own periodic inspections to stay on top of these issues that can cause a landlord to lose a lawsuit in a heartbeat.

Give each tenant an evacuation plan. Provide escape ladders if second-floor bedrooms can be cut off from exits in case of fire. Also, provide fire extinguishers in the kitchen and at least one other room.

Don’t require tenants to rake leaves or shovel snow. Either do it yourself, or hire professionals to take care of the grounds. Whether it’s from a pile of wet leaves or a slick patch of ice, tenants can be injured on your property if it’s not well maintained. There is no magic formula to prevent any and all injuries, but it still will benefit the landlord or property manager who does everything possible to keep the property safe. And, the courts see it as the owner’s responsibility, not the tenant’s.

Conduct safety inspections. You should keep your eyes peeled every time you enter your rental property, but be sure to also schedule periodic safety inspections. Look for problems with broken or rotted stair treads, wobbly railings on stairwells, porches, or decks, and windows that don’t operate properly. Make sure locks are easy to operate, and smoke and CO2 detectors are functioning. Trim broken tree limbs before they come down on a tenant’s head.

Finally, keep communicating with your tenants. Provide them with more information than you think they need—it could help you win a court case someday.  Write up a list of safety tips, and firmly state your visitor and key policies in your lease. Alert tenants whenever maintenance or construction projects will be going on, and advise them to avoid the areas being worked on. And remember to check in with your tenants—ask if all their safety equipment is working properly, or if doors and windows are getting stuck. Keep communicating and you’ll find out what needs to be addressed much sooner—which could possibly prevent and injury for a tenant, and a lawsuit for you!

Every year, carbon monoxide poisoning kills 500 people.*

What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels: oil, natural gas, wood, coal, and gasoline. In homes, the major sources of CO are fossil fuel burning furnaces, boilers, water heaters and fireplaces.

How can you detect carbon monoxide? This is the problem. You can’t. Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless. It is colorless, and unlike other dangerous emissions, CO does not irritate the skin, eyes, or nose.

Is carbon monoxide dangerous? Yes! It is highly toxic, and CO poisoning can be fatal.

What are the warning signs of CO poisoning? Headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and nausea. These symptoms are often mistaken for the flu.

What should one do if CO poisoning is suspected? Open all windows, call the Fire Department and remove all people and animals from the home.

What precautions should a landlord take?

1. Have furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys, and venting systems inspected annually.

2. Properly install and periodically inspect CO detectors. All detectors have test buttons.

3. Replace batteries in battery-powered detectors. twice a year—when clocks are changed for daylight savings time.

4. Regularly check all gas-fired appliances for leaks.

5. Instruct your tenants to notify you immediately if they detect any odors that indicate leaks.

6. Never allow tenants to use the range or oven for heat or to cook with charcoal grills inside the home or garage.

7. Never paint over detectors.

8. Replace detectors when recommended by the manufacturer. Keep instruction manuals and record the date purchased and installed. Record replacement dates in your annual inspection/maintenance logs.

What types of carbon monoxide detectors are available? Some detectors run on batteries, allowing them to be placed wherever needed. Others are hard-wired with battery backups, and the third type plug into power outlets. Some have talking alarms, while others have digital displays.

Where are CO detectors installed? CO detectors should be placed five feet or more above the floor, because CO is lighter than air. They may go on the ceiling, as well. CO detectors should not be installed near a fireplace or gas-fired appliance, such as a water heater. Each floor should have at least one CO detector, ideally near sleeping areas.

Landlords are responsible for keeping their rental units habitable and safe. One easy way to do so, which may be required in your state, is to install and properly maintain carbon monoxide detectors in all your rental properties!

*Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 299, No. 9.