Skip to Content

Do I Need to Provide a Fire Extinguisher for My Rental?

The matter of fire safety in your Watertown single-family rental house is a crucial one. As an investment property owner, you want to know that your property is not only safe and in good condition but that you have good fire prevention measures in place as well. There are many property owners who recognize the weight of having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their rental homes and make sure to maintain them every year. But what about fire extinguishers? Even if not many laws require property owners to provide them, fire extinguishers are handy to have.

As a property owner, you already know that observing state and local regulations is of paramount importance to keep your rental home safe and profitable. However, most prosperous property owners don’t just follow the letter of the law. It is very significant that you take into account what is best for you, your tenants, and your investment. If it involves anything to make your property safer and easier to rent to quality tenants, go for it. For example, installing fire extinguishers in your rental homes — is one good way to assure quality and safety!

When used rapidly and properly, fire extinguishers are proven to help prevent property damage and personal injury. Typically, when the proper tools are made accessible to tenants, household fires can easily be dealt with. There are numerous types of fire extinguishers made to put out different types of fires. The conventional fire extinguisher intended for general household use will extinguish all types of fires. When selecting an extinguisher for your rental properties, it’s vital to pick one light enough to lift, aim, and spray easily. Consequently, general-purpose, user-friendly models are the best choice for rental properties.

Coupled with tenant education, equipping at least one fire extinguisher in your Watertown rental could spare you from having to spend more in the future. The National Fire Protection Association reports that there are more than 355,000 residential fires in the U.S. every year, causing $6.9 billion in property damage. Even if you assume that your insurance will help you repair or replace your rental home in the event of a fire, that usually doesn’t include the lost rental income or the higher insurance premiums you are likely to pay after making a claim.

Moreover, fire extinguishers can save lives. Household fires cause an average of 2,600 deaths every year, as well as over 11,000 injuries. As a property owner, your tenants’ safety while they are in the rental home is on you. Educating your tenants on how to effectively address an emergency situation like fire and giving them the tools they need to extinguish small fires will lead to the likelihood that no lives will be lost in your rental home.

Giving your tenants access to fire extinguishers can prove to be very beneficial, for many reasons. When you provide fire extinguishers to your tenants, this shows them that their safety is your priority; not just compliance with the law. This helps build a good rapport with your tenants, encourages them to do their part in property maintenance, and broadens the chances of lengthening their stay in your rental house. These essentially point to higher long-term profitability for your rental.

Together with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers are an essential part of any property owner’s tool kit. However, there are several things that you can do to create safe and appealing rental properties in Watertown. Would you like to learn more? Contact our team today online!

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details