One of your most important jobs as a landlord or a property manager is making sure your tenants and their guests are safe and secure in their home. It’s your job to make sure that the home is pollutant free before the tenants move in.

Indoor air pollution has become a more prevalent problem as people have been working to eliminate drafts and air leaks, thereby trapping more pollutants inside. If this is a problem in your rental units you’ll have to improve the ventilation to alleviate the problem.

If you have a large amount of nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide in your apartments they you’ve probably got a poorly maintained or vented range, heater, dryer, gas appliances, or fireplace or other heating element. Make sure that all of these appliances are properly vented and that the vents are clear. Check for cracks in the appliance itself and make sure there is a working ducts on heating systems. Perform all routine maintenance procedures as recommended by the manufacturer.

Lead paint is a hot topic for a lot of people, but if your home has been repainted since 1978 you’re probably safe. Most paint stores have inexpensive kits you can buy to test the paint if you’re uncertain.

Asbestos is another pollutant you hear about regularly, asbestos was used in the 1940s and the 1950s to make fire-resistant structures for the home. It becomes hazardous when the small fibers break off and crumble. If your rentals were built after 1972 you’re probably in the clear, but if not you’ll want to have professionals remove and replace all of the asbestos.

It is your duty to keep your rental units up to code when it comes to the safety and security of your tenants.

Natural disasters and hazards hit every region of the United States in varying degrees and it’s your responsibility as a property manager or a landlord to make sure that your property is as ready for a disaster as it can be. One of the most common hazards you will encounter is flooding, use the following information to get your property ready in case there is a flood in your region.

Your first step is purchasing flood insurance, which isn’t included in most standard homeowners’ insurance plans. You’ll have to know the flood susceptibility of your property and where the floods will come from.

Then prepare your home by elevating your electric panel, water heater and furnace as much as possible to protect them from flood damage. Install check valves in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into your home and causing more damage.

If a flood is coming and you have to evacuate, move valuables to the highest floor if possible. Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves, unplug electrical appliances, but don’t touch any electrical equipment if you’re already standing in water.?

If you are evacuating try to avoid driving and walking in moving water, it only takes about six inches of moving water to knock you off your feet or to cause stalling and loss of control in your vehicle. If you have to walk about use a stick to probe the ground in front of you so you can be as sure on your feet as possible.

If you have had flooding problems in the past, you may want to create a packet for your tenants giving them information on what steps to take in case of a flood and how to escape safely.

photo credit: Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)

Apartments.com recently completed a study that found that 84% of the respondents owned a pet and more than a third of those people said they encountered difficulties in finding a rental that will accept their furry companions. For some getting rid of their pets is out of the question, for others it’s unfortunately a too easy choice and the overpopulated animal shelters are a testament to this problem.

But don’t despair, if you have a pet it’s not impossible to get a rental. First of all you need to know a bit about the breed you own. People with pit bulls are obviously going to have a hard time convincing someone to let them rent with a potentially dangerous breed. But if you have a well behaved pet that is not a known aggressive breed, you stand a chance of convincing your landlord.

Look for individual landlords are they’re more apt to be flexible with the rules whereas large rental corporations are not. And then be willing to prove to the landlord that you’re a good pet owner and that your pets are well behaved. Let the landlord meet the animal and have your routine vet bills available.

And if all else fails, put your money where your mouth is. Some landlords will find an additional security deposit satisfactory, others will want a little bit of a boost in your monthly rent. Use whatever bargaining chips you may have to keep your treasured pets with you and be persistent, there are ways to rent the apartment you want even with a pet.

Renter’s insurance should never be considered an option or a luxury, just a simple fact of life if you’re a renter. The following are good reasons to buy renter’s insurance, but you shouldn’t even need convincing, it’s such a simple choice.

It’s Cheap

Renter’s insurance is really very inexpensive, for just a couple hundred (way less than your car insurance) you’ve protected all of your property from potential damage or complete loss. Over the course of the year this is really a negligible cost for the peace of mind you’ll receive.

It’s Not Just You

In most situations, renters share property with other people, people who may not be as responsible or diligent as you are and they can cause damage to your property, it’s totally out of your control. But on the other side of that argument, you may be the one who causes damage to someone else’s property (imagine a fire that’s your fault) and you’re suddenly responsible for all of their damaged items. Renters insurance protects you from this expense.

It’s Your Money

You may falsely assume that any damage to property, be it yours or someone else’s, or injury to someone will be your landlord’s responsibility. This is simply wrong in most cases. If the damage or injury happens on your rental property or due to your negligence you’re the one who will be held responsible and have to pay.

Protect the majority of your assets by spending a little on renter’s insurance. It really is one of the most important investments you can make.

Moving into your first apartment is a very exciting experience, but it also can be a bit nerve wracking as well. Use the following tips to make the transition go a little more smoothly and so you know what to expect.

Rent What You Can Afford

Experts suggest you rent a place that is no more than 25-30% of your monthly income. For first time renters though, you actually should try to go a little bit lower and stay in the 20-25% range. The reason for this is there are certain things you???ll need to set up your new home that you don???t have and some of these items can be very expensive, like furniture. So by keeping the monthly rental fee lower you can purchase all of those things that make an apartment home.

Read the Lease

Sure, you???ve seen the People???s Court, you know how important it is to read and understand contracts before you sign them, but you???d be shocked at how many people still don???t bother. Take the time to read the contract thoroughly so there are no surprises in the future.

Be Respectful

For some first time renters the lure is the idea of being able to party all the time but this is simply not the case in most rental units, and do you really want to live somewhere where this is the policy? Be respectful of your neighbors and in turn they???re more likely to be respectful of you. This doesn???t mean you can never have a party just be reasonable in the time, frequency, the number of guests and the volume level.

Basically, you need to be a good renter to have a good experience in your first apartment. Respect yourself, your neighbors, your landlord and your pocketbook and you???ll be thrilled with your first foray into the renting world.

It???s no surprise that the vast majority of renters say that the crime statistics in a neighborhood weighs on their decision of whether to rent or not. People simply want to be safe and there are certain things you can do to hedge your bets and make your home a little safer.

Lock Up

If your home doesn???t have deadbolts, get them immediately. If you have to, petition your landlord, even if you have to foot the bill, deadbolts are a great way to add a little protection to your home. Along the same lines, use your locks all the time, even when you???re inside your home in the middle of the day. Being extra cautious can???t hurt.

Make Shift Locks

In addition to having the proper locks on your doors, add wooden rods to sliding doors and windows, specialty pins can be inserted into the wooden frames of windows and sliding doors as well so people cannot lift them off of their tracks and gain access. And there are now door jambs for traditional door knobs as well that work with the same concept as a wooden rod in a door track.

Look for Lighting

Take a nighttime walk and see if there are places to hide in the shadows. If there are do what you can to brighten the area or eliminate the hiding spot. Do this seasonally as bushes are great camouflage in the spring and summer months.

Know Your Neighbors

Get to know the people who live next to you, its remarkable how people will ignore the screams of another if they don???t know the person, but when an acquaintance or even friend cries for help the reaction is immediate. In fact, your neighbors may be diligent enough to notice people lurking around before it escalates into a criminal act.

Be as diligent as possible to keep yourself, your neighbors and your neighborhood safe and free of crime and everyone???s living experience will be better.

One misconception that has led to a lot of landlords not allowing pets on their property is that landlords are responsible if the pet injures someone. This simply is not true, the liability lies with the pet owner.

Even if your pet has never so much as given anyone the evil eye, its best to protect yourself if you???re renting. Some people just rub animals the wrong way, much as they do people, and your friendly pet may take offense and lash out at this person. Suddenly you???ve got a dangerous pet and a possible lawsuit looming. To protect yourself, get renter???s insurance and be sure to let your insurance provider know that you???ve got pets.

Each insurance policy varies, but look for one that at least gives the person fouled by your pet $500 in medical expenses (look for more if you can because if plastic surgery is involved it can get very expensive), $500 in property damage, and at least $300,000 in liability coverage.

And this isn???t just for people with man???s best friend as a pet, although dogs are most often the culprit in animal bite cases, they???re far from the only ones ever to offend. No matter what sort of pet you have, you need to protect yourself from potential lawsuits. It???s something every responsible pet owner should do.