Space heaters should never be allowed in a rental home. There is a perfectly logical reason why they have a reputation for causing deadly accidents, and it would not be a good idea to gamble on allowing them in your property. It would seem like every time we read the newspapers; there’s always a story about a fire caused by space heaters. The stories are almost the same: a family goes to bed on a cold winter night, their space heater keeping the freezing air at bay – and they never wake up. And it’s almost always one of two things: Either the electric heater has malfunctioned and filled the home with toxic fumes, or it has sparked an electrical fire from which there is little hope of escape. Stories like these are all too frequent, and the last thing any Caldwell property owner needs is to discover that such a tragedy has happened to their residents.
Electric heaters are generally safer for residential use than fuel-based models. But even electric heaters must be used under strict supervision and according to the recommended safety practices. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to injury caused by space heaters, which puts any resident with a family or pet at risk. Besides, there’s no guarantee that your residents will know or follow the prescribed safety practices or use the space heater correctly, which may lead to unfortunate outcomes.
By now, it shouldn’t be a question if banning space heaters is ok. Not only a wise safety measure but also an indispensable part of protecting yourself and your real estate investment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated that over 25,000 residential fires are caused by space heaters each year. These fires produce more than 300 deaths and 6,000 emergency room visits yearly. While some of these injuries are burns from contacting the hot surfaces of a space heater unit, others are far more severe.
As the rental property owner, you carry a high risk of liability if you allow your residents to use space heaters. While your landlord’s insurance covers the damage to the rental home itself, if a space heater has caused any loss of life or serious injury, that may result in further legal action against you. Lawsuits alleging negligence or worse could endanger not only your source of income, but also your resources and, in some cases, your freedom.
Regular property evaluations are crucial to protecting your property from the dangers presented by space heaters. At Real Property Management Apex, regular evaluations are a foundational piece of our property management program. We believe that the safety of your residents is a top priority, as is protecting you and your investment from the uncertainties of noncompliance. Contact us online or call us at 254-732-1599 to learn more about what we can do for you.
Check out our other blogs regarding tenant safety:
- Does Your Bryan-College Station Property Need a Security System?
- How To Avoid 5 Common Household Hazards
- Fireplace Safety Tips for China Spring Tenants
- New Year’s Fireworks and Your Robinson Rental Property
- Tis the Season: Christmas Trees and Your Hewitt Rental Property
- Raising Questions about Reasonable Accommodations
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.
