Six Tips to Make Your Rental Property Safer For Your Children
With kids in your life, one has to make several changes, including changing their living conditions. Whether living in your own home or a rental property, parents have to childproof each corner. It’s a necessary procedure to follow if you want to keep your children out of danger.
Children in their early years cannot protect themselves and are at a higher risk. So, making a few changes to your property is essential for the safety of your children. From structural aspects of your property to electronic appliances and the furniture in your home, anything could be the reason behind your child getting hurt.
The best way to avoid such a situation is by opting for preventive measures. Make your property safe for your children by using dedicated designs. Remember, you’re renting out the place, so it’s better to seek approvals from owners beforehand. Even though no owner would deny your child’s request for proof of a place, it is better to consider them.
The following options are some of the top recommendations for making rental properties secure for children of all ages.
- Think of Adding a Few Baby Gates
You might have seen small gates near the top of stairs in several homes. Well, these baby gates are installed to protect kids, especially toddlers from experiencing a nasty fall.
The best way to secure the place is by installing a baby gate at both ends of the staircase. Thanks to the locked door, your kid won’t be in any danger. Even if it’s just a few steps, why take the risk?
Moreover, installing these gates in your rental property could be beneficial for future tenants with small children. Owners who overlook this safety measure might face trouble if a child gets injured. According to Stein Law, Florida slip and fall lawyers, ‘If anyone is hurt due to negligent property maintenance, the owner is liable to pay for damages.’
Therefore, ensure the premises are safe for your tenants and their children to avoid future lawsuits.
- Install a Smoke or Fire Alarm
Another feature that could guarantee the safety of your children is having a smoke alarm in your home. One cannot predict when a fire will break out in their home, and under such conditions, a working smoke alarm within the proximity of each room is essential.
That way, you and your kids can timely evacuate the place and remain safe. Always check the alarm in your home, and have it fixed in time.
A functioning alarm could save you and your family when a fire breaks out unexpectedly. If there are no indications of the hazard in time, you might not be able to save everyone.
- Place Fencing around your Pool
Pool safety should be the priority for parents who don’t want their children to accidentally drown. Homes with pools should prefer getting fencing around them to keep children away from danger.
Thanks to the safety fence, even if you’re busy with your chores and leave your kid unattended, there is no chance of accidents happening.
Getting new fencing around your pool area won’t cost much and could prevent mishaps.
- Replace Blinds in your Home with Safer Options
Blinds with long cords are dangerous for individuals with young kids. Children might accidentally choke themselves while playing with these strings, or the cords might cause your kid to trip over. In both situations, your kid is at risk.
Thus, replacing such blinds is the only solution for making your home safe for children. Think of switching to window coverings that don’t have cords or long strings.
- Install Locks for Every Cupboard
Kids, while playing around, might start exploring things inside cupboards, and it won’t be good for them. There can be toxic chemicals inside cupboards, including detergents, chemical cleaners, grease, and spices.
If a child accidentally ingests any of these poisonous materials, you can’t imagine the outcome. Instead of putting your child at risk, install cabinet locks to keep things out of your toddler’s reach.
Pay attention to kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as most toxic chemicals are in these two areas. Always keep cupboards locked so your child doesn’t cause themselves harm.
- Cover Electrical Outlets
Children love to do things they are stopped from, and putting their tiny fingers in socket holes tops the chart. No matter how careful you might be, you can’t monitor them 24/7, and they might accidentally get electrocuted.
Therefore, to protect your child, place covers on electrical outlets. You can install covers for every socket or just the ones in plain sight.
Leaving sockets bare multiplies the chances of kids putting their hands in it. With a cover attached to the socket, your kid remains safe, and the entire change won’t cost much.
Parents can consult with their property owners and decide whether they should pay for these protectors or if the owner will cover the cost. Either way, it won’t be a burden on anyone’s pocket.
