Rental Property Emergency Planning and Response

As a residential landlord, proper emergency planning can be the key to preventing a potential disaster from taking place within your rental property.

Although such an emergency situation may be remote and hopefully will never take place, it's always a wise precaution to "prepare for the worst and hope for the best", especially when considering all that could be lost. In this way, the likelihood of a catastrope from taking place will be reduced, forcing those pesky little gremlins to move out and take up residence at another property .

Emergency Planning

Preparing for emergencies can start by making some basic observations around your rental property and playing the "devil's advocate" with things that could go wrong. These efforts could lead to identifying potential emergency situations and hazards that could take place around your rental property. Such emergency situations and hazards could include the following�

Fire Emergencies - Fires could result from numerous causes such as smoking, overloaded electric wires, cooking/stovetop fires, and combustible materials stored near heat sources. Fire is one of the most serious threats to the safety of your tenants and property.
Plumbing Emergencies - Flooding is the primary hazard that is associated with plumbing emergencies. A break in a water supply line can flood an apartment in a very short time and cause serious damage.
Gas Leak Emergencies - A gas leak emergency can pose a serious threat of explosion resulting in destruction of property and severe injury or loss of life. If enough gas fills an apartment to create an "explosive mixture" with air, then the slightest source of heat such as a tiny spark from turning on a light switch or making a telephone call could cause a deadly explosion to occur.
Electrical Emergencies - The occurrence of fire and electrocution are the greatest hazards presented by electrical emergencies. Overhead outdoor electric service wires that enter the house could cause electrocution to occur if contacted by careless individuals, especially those using metal ladders. Indoor wiring could overheat due to overloading or defective insulation and cause a fire to occur.

Once the potential emergency situations have been identified, an emergency response plan will have to be made to successfully deal with the emergency situation. This would include having the proper emergency equipment to deal with any such emergency that may come along.

In closing, the motto of the US Coast Guard, "Semper Paratus", which is Latin for the English translation "always ready", sums up the need for emergency planning and response. Adopting such a motto can certainly prepare you for any rental property emergency that may cross your path.

For more in-depth information about rental property emergency planning, please visit The Landlord's Library book collection. It's a terrific, one-stop source for practical, comprehensive information on the entire subject of residential landlording.

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