Simple Safety Tips to Get Your Rental Property School-Ready

August doesn’t just bring back-to-school sales and conversations about packed lunch options; it also brings new routines for families in your rental units. Kids are catching early buses, parents are rushing to drop-offs, and foot traffic picks up across your property. For landlords and multifamily property owners, it’s the perfect time to hit the books on safety.
Whether your tenants have preschoolers or high schoolers, these simple tips can help make your rental more family-friendly, reduce liability, and earn you high marks with tenants.

Light Their Way, Safely

With early morning bus stop pickups and child and parent departures, lighting matters more than ever. Make sure outdoor pathways, entrances, and common areas are well-lit to help prevent falls and improve visibility during dark school-day mornings. Consider solar-powered stake lights along sidewalks or motion-sensor lighting near building entrances and parking areas. Better lighting isn’t just about safety; it shows tenants you care.

Slow Drivers’ Roll in Your Lot

A kid darting away in a parking lot is every parent’s nightmare – and a serious liability for landlords. As kids head to and from school, it’s time to treat your parking area like a school zone. Add “Slow Down” signage, repaint faded crosswalks, and post speed limit signs to encourage safer driving. If your lot gets busy during pickup and drop-off hours, think about creating a temporary “Kid Zone” policy to limit through-traffic during those times.

Create Safer Common Spaces

Hallways, stairwells, and shared entrances are busier during the school year. Add mats with grips to reduce slips in wet or icy weather, double-check handrails for sturdiness, and remove clutter from communal areas. These small efforts help reduce the risk of injury for kids running to catch the bus or dragging in backpacks and muddy sneakers. If your building includes an outdoor area, ensure that fencing is intact and gates latch properly, to keep little ones safe while playing or waiting for rides.

Secure That Homework Haven

Inside their units, tenants with kids want spaces that are functional, safe, and conducive to learning. While you can’t control every interior choice, you can help set the standard by ensuring that:

• Outlets are tamper-resistant
• Window locks are functional
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working
• Flooring is slip-resistant in key areas like kitchens and entryways

Childproofing may not be your legal responsibility, but it could be a big factor for families deciding where to live.

Encourage Renters Insurance for Families

Parents are already juggling a lot. Give them peace of mind with coverage that protects their belongings in case of fire, theft, or other unexpected events. Millers Mutual Renters Insurance helps families recover after a loss, and it protects you, too. When tenants have coverage, they’re less likely to turn to landlords to recoup damages from an insured event.

School’s In: Make Safety a Priority

The fresh start of a new school year is the perfect season to ensure your rental property gets more than a passing grade in safety. These quick upgrades and policy refreshers go a long way in protecting your tenants and your investment.

Have questions about the right coverage for your portfolio? Talk to a Millers Mutual agent and get school-year ready.