How to Help Prepare Your Rental Property For a Claim-Free Winter

It’s that time of year again for many of us in the northern hemisphere—a time for heading indoors, unearthing extra sweaters and blankets, and preparing for a long, chilly winter. If you’re a landlord managing a rental property, you have the added responsibility of looking out for your tenants. Winter can be particularly tricky when it comes to keeping your property safe, so here are a few reminders to help you skate through the icy season.

Before the cold sets in, consider what you might be able to do ahead of time to prepare yourself and your tenants for the winter. Stock your property with salt and spare shovels. Have the furnace serviced. Check to make sure any laundry vents are clear. If you have trees on your property, make sure they’re trimmed and you’re minimizing the chance that a branch might break under the weight of heavy snow.

Promptly removing snow should be a top priority for any good landlord. You might clear it away yourself, delegate the task to an employee, or hire a service. Whatever you do, make sure you have communicated the plan to your tenants, so they know what to expect. If your property has areas that might require some snow removal by the tenants themselves (e.g., front doorways or sidewalk space), you’ll want to lay that out specifically in the rental contract and remind the tenants of their responsibilities when the seasons change. If the snow really piles up, consider removing the snow from the roof of the property and checking to ensure all exterior vents remain clear.

Your best chance at preventing winter claims is being prepared. Take care of your property throughout the year so you have less to worry about in the face of cold weather. Remove snow and manage any icy spots promptly to keep your risk of slip-and-fall claims to a minimum. And if you have questions about what kind of liability coverage you have and how you’ll be protected, contact your Acuity agent!