Smoke Detectors Save Lives – I cannot count the number of times I have gone into a rental property and heard the smoke detector beeping because the battery is dead. I have seen the smoke detector missing completely or hanging out of the wall with no batteries. There have been too many instances where people have been hurt or killed because there was a fire and the smoke detector was not working. A six-pack of 10-year sealed (no battery change required) smoke detectors sell for around $110. Landlords should install 10-year sealed detectors in all their rentals to limit liability.
CO Poisoning – Many of the houses with gas furnaces and/or appliances do not have CO detectors. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. When power outages occur after severe weather, such as winter storms, using alternative sources of power or heat like a fireplace or BBQ grill can cause CO to build up in a home. On average 430 people die from CO poisoning in the US and 50,000 people visit the emergency room each year due to accidental CO poisoning. In December 2021 seven family members died in Moorhead Minnesota from CO poisoning. The CO detector was removed from the wall, the batteries had been removed and the detector was found in a cabinet. This tragedy was completely avoidable by installing CO detectors and making sure the batteries are changed regularly.
Though Minnesota law says the tenants are responsible for maintaining the CO detectors this does not mean relatives cannot file a lawsuit against the owners. If a lawsuit is filed it is up to the owner to mount a defense or settle. Installing CO detectors and maintaining them would be a lot cheaper. Lowes sells a two-pack of CO detectors that plug into an outlet and has a battery backup for under $40. The landlord should have maintenance change the batteries in the CO detector at a minimum of every 12 months.
Limiting Landlord Liability – Landlords should protect themselves from potential litigation by making sure there are working smoke and CO detectors in every rental. Smoke detectors should be installed in every bedroom, kitchen and living areas. CO detectors should be installed within 10 feet of every room used for sleeping.
Renter’s Insurance – Some landlords require tenants to buy renter’s insurance. A majority of the tenants may refuse to buy insurance or buy it to satisfy the requirement and then cancel the insurance. Renters think they don’t need insurance. But none of their personal property is covered if the building floods, burns down, someone breaks in or a guest gets injured. It will also help with temporary living expenses if the living quarters are damaged by a covered loss and you cannot live there temporarily. Renter’s insurance is cheap. GEICO has a policy for $12 a month.
Should the landlords require the tenant to buy renter’s insurance? Yes, because if the tenant’s personal property is damaged because the property caught on fire or flooded the tenant is going to try to get the landlord to pay. Putting in the lease that the tenant should buy renter’s insurance, even if the language doesn’t say it is required, would help limit the liability by eliminating the tenant’s excuse of not knowing their personal property or a guest injury is not covered by the landlord.