Ensuring your short-term rental is safe for your guests not only offers peace of mind for those booking your home but for you as well. Implementing precautionary safety measures can save you stress, time, and money. Data shows that more and more guests are factoring in safety features when booking a home, so making a few adjustments can ultimately help bring in more bookings in the long run. This article features the top short-term rental safety strategies to protect yourself as a host.
Justin Ford, Director of Safety Programs at Breezeway, recently shared with the San Diego Short-Term Rental Alliance how owners can mitigate risk and ensure their properties are safe havens for guests.
Use furniture designed for short-term rentals and secure it properly
Using sturdy products that are as close to commercial-grade products as possible helps protect guests from mishaps. Use wall anchors and arrange furniture to reduce the risk of something tipping over or becoming a tripping hazard
Make sure your short-term rentals is free of “slip, trip, and fall” hazards
From area rugs to furniture, “slips, trips, and falls” are some of the leading causes of injuries in a short-term rental.
Check your property at night for good lighting inside and out
Guests should never need to use a cellphone to enter the property at night. You can easily avoid the risk of an injury by making sure the outside of the home is properly lit and that the inside has plenty of accessible lights as well.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly
Make sure all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your short-term rental are working correctly with regular maintenance checks. This is the single most important thing you can do to ensure guest safety.
Stock proper fire extinguishers
Not only should you have a working fire extinguisher, but it should be in a place that is visible and easily accessible to your guests.
Supply first aid kits
Stock your short-term rental with safety kits and make sure guests know where to find them.
Locate your grill properly
Grills should be placed in locations with 9 feet of vertical clearance and 10 feet away from combustibles.
Regularly check your structures
Regularly inspect your short-term rental’s exterior structures, such as decks, stairs, etc., and keep up on necessary repairs.
More resources on short-term rental safety strategies:
- AZRT Webinar: Answers to Background Checks, Sex Offender Registry, and other STR Safety FAQs
- Webinar from Rent Responsibly & Breezeway: The Importance of Smoke Alarms
- To learn more about protecting yourself and your property, check out Breezeway’s Safety Program.