Tis the Season: Christmas Trees and Your Chester Rental Property

Christmas season is that time of year families come together with social gatherings, beautiful gifts, and twinkling lights. Most people think that seasonal decorations are not complete if a gorgeous Christmas tree, filled with lights and ornaments is not in sight. Chester rental property owners acknowledge that their tenants are same as the majority and that having a Christmas tree could be the highlight of their holiday celebrations.

Disclaimer though, decorations are not always a problem it is actually Christmas trees, and mainly it is because of their extremely flammable nature. When combined with electrical sparks or overheating cords, a dry Christmas tree can turn into a roaring house fire in less than a minute. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires started by Christmas trees average 200 per year. Every year, these fires cause an average of $14.8 million in property damage, 16 injuries, and six deaths.

Any responsible property owner knows it is imperative to teach basic fire safety tips to your renters prior to the start of the holiday season. Although tempting, prohibiting Christmas trees altogether is not a good solution, there are some rather simple measures your tenants can do to defend themselves and your rental home from the risk of fire.

The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) offers some safety precautions that can greatly diminish the danger of your tree catching fire. These precautions include:

• Choose a fresh (real) tree or an artificial tree instead. New trees are deemed secure to use due to their inherent fire resistance. Artificial trees are also more harmless than real trees are since that they won’t dry out over time.
• Water your fresh tree consistently. New trees must be watered often and discarded immediately after the holiday or as soon as the needles begin to drop.
• Place your tree away from heat sources and open flames, such as fireplaces, candles and heat vents.
• Use safety-tested lights and throw out any damaged light sets.
• Turn off the Christmas tree lights before going to bed or leaving the home. Leaving the lights on all night or while away increases your risk of fire.
• Keep an up-to-date fire extinguisher nearby in the event that sparks or flames do appear.

Communicating these Christmas tree safety tips with your tenants in Chester can protect your rental homes and help everyone enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday. With Real Property Management NJ Elite by your side, we can ensure that these safety precautions are shared with your renters and that all holiday decorations meet basic safety guidelines. For more information about our full-service property management services, please contact us online or call us at 908-955-7487.