As you run around trying to finish up your holiday planning and this colder, more festive month flies by, be sure to make time to stop and consider the darker possibilities. With every fruit cake that is served and funny family Christmas story that is exchanged, there is a sad story out there where a family lost everything to a brittle, burning fire or had to rush to the ER because of carbon monoxide poisoning. While it’s easy to give in to the Christmas carols and sweet hot chocolate festivities, when it comes to your family, tenants and rentals, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors

According to the CDC, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poising. Additionally, more than 20,000 people visit the emergency room from CO poisoning as well. Despite this, less than one-third of American homes have a carbon monoxide detector installed in their home.

If your rentals don’t have carbon monoxide detectors installed already, you should prioritize to have it done as soon as possible. With December and January at the peak of CO poisonings, now is the perfect time to install one. If you already have CO detectors installed, make sure to change out the batteries. The National Safety Council recommends you do this every spring and fall-time.

Christmas Tree Safety

Christmas trees associated with tragic fires are unfortunately all too common. While as a landlord, you can’t directly stop a Christmas tree fire, what you can do is hand out a helpful reminder. Caution your residents to use LED lighting and try not to overload their electrical circuits with tons of plugs. You don’t want a Christmas Vacation situation on your hands. Remind them to not keep their tree over two weeks and to regularly clean up pine needles. Remember, the drier the tree, the more flammable it becomes your renters should make sure there is always plenty of water in the base.

If your residents have pets or children, tell them to position their Christmas tree carefully. It only takes one mischievous cat to knock down a wobbly tree, and anything nearby it. Finally, do a little research and notify your residents of what their area’s tree recycling service is. They’ll be thankful come New Year’s.

Keep your home, rental and residents safe this holiday season with just a few quick safety reminders and updates. With these few things out of the way, you can go ahead and enjoy your winter festivities in peace.

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