Guides

Home safety guides for tenants and landlords

Short, practical answers about leaks, fires, gas and carbon monoxide in rental homes. Every fact comes from a public safety source, linked on each page.

For tenants

What to do in your home, and what to ask your landlord.

• How to find the water shutoff valve in your rentalWhere the water shutoff valves are in an apartment or rental house, how to close them, and what to ask your landlord. Five minutes now can save your home.
• Water leak at home: what to do firstA pipe, hose or toilet is leaking in your apartment. Here's what to do in the first few minutes, in order, and when to call maintenance or 911.
• Why your smoke alarm is chirping, and what to doA chirp every 30 or 60 seconds usually means a low battery. What renters should do about it, how to test an alarm, and when to tell your landlord.
• Carbon monoxide alarm going off: what to doIf your CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air, then call 911. Why you shouldn't wait for symptoms, and how to prevent carbon monoxide at home.
• How to put out a grease fire on the stoveOil in a pan caught fire. Cover it, turn off the heat and keep it covered. Never use water. What to do if it spreads, and how to prevent kitchen fires.
• What to do if you smell gas at homeIf your home smells like gas, leave right away without switching anything on or off. Call 911 or the gas company from outside. Here's why.
• Space heater safety for rentersKeep space heaters 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug them straight into the wall and turn them off at night. The habits that prevent heater fires.
• Charging an e-bike or scooter safely in an apartmentLithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and scooters can catch fire while charging. How to charge them safely at home, and the warning signs to watch for.
• How renters can keep pipes from freezingSimple steps renters can take on the coldest nights: steady heat, open cabinet doors and a dripping faucet. And what to do if a frozen pipe bursts.
• How to prevent a dryer fireThe leading cause of dryer fires is not cleaning them. Clean the lint filter every load, keep the area clear and turn the dryer off when you leave.
• Candle safety at homeKeep candles 12 inches from anything that burns, blow them out when you leave the room, and use flashlights in a power outage. Simple rules that prevent fires.
• Fire escape plan for an apartmentHow to plan your way out of an apartment fire: two ways out, the stairs not the elevator, closed doors, and what to do if you can't get out.
• How to tell if your toilet is leaking, and what to doA running toilet can leak for months without a sound. A 20 minute food coloring test tells you, and what to do if a toilet starts to overflow.
• Generator and storm safety for rentersRun a generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the home. Never touch a fallen power line. What to do after a storm or a power outage.
• 911 or maintenance? When to call whichFire, smoke, a gas smell, a CO alarm or anyone hurt is a 911 call. A leak or no heat goes to your landlord's after hours line. How to tell the difference.
• Electrical warning signs to report to your landlordBreakers that trip often, flickering lights, a warm outlet or a burning smell. The electrical warning signs renters should report right away.
• Can you grill on an apartment balcony?A widely used fire code bans charcoal and gas grills on apartment balconies and within 10 feet of the building. Where you can grill, and how to do it safely.

Guías para inquilinos en español

For landlords and property managers

Prevention, maintenance and what to teach your tenants.

• How to prevent water damage in a rental propertyThe appliance checks, hose upgrades and tenant habits that prevent water damage in rentals. A practical list for landlords and property managers.
• A water and fire safety maintenance schedule for rentalsWhat to check in a rental every month, every 6 months, every year and every few years: alarms, hoses, water heaters and heating.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rentals: a landlord checklistWhere smoke and CO alarms go, how often to test and replace them, and how to get tenants to report problems. A checklist for landlords.
• Winter checklist for landlords: frozen pipes and heatingHow landlords can prevent frozen pipes and heating fires in rentals: thermostat settings, vacant units, tenant reminders and heating inspections.
• What to cover in a tenant safety orientation at move-inThe water, fire, gas and emergency topics every new tenant should learn in the first week, and how to deliver them without a walkthrough.
• How to get tenants to report leaks earlySmall leaks get expensive when nobody reports them. Practical ways landlords can make tenants speak up sooner, from one clear number to a small reward.
• E-bike and scooter batteries in rentals: what landlords can doLithium-ion battery fires often start at night while a battery charges. What landlords can tell tenants, and how to keep exits clear in your building.
• Fire safety checklist for apartment building ownersClear and marked exits, working alarms, a plan residents know, and the habits that matter most. A practical fire safety checklist for apartment buildings.
• Dryer vent maintenance for landlordsFailure to clean dryers is the leading cause of dryer fires. How often to clean the vent, what venting to use and what to ask tenants to report.
• How to find silent toilet leaks in your rentalsToilet leaks are the most common household leaks, and many are silent. A 20 minute dye test at move-in and a flapper every few years catch most of them.
• After a storm: a safety checklist for landlordsWhat landlords should check and tell tenants after a storm or a long power outage: power lines, wet electrical equipment, generators and carbon monoxide.

General safety information. It doesn't replace your building's safety systems, local codes or your lease.