Space heaters account for many deadly accidents, prompting many rental property owners to ban using them in a rental home. The stories are all too familiar: a family goes to bed on a chilly winter night, thinking that they could sleep well because their space heater is making sure they are warm – and they never wake up. The culprit being the electric heater has malfunctioned and filled the home with toxic fumes, or it has ignited an electrical fire leaving the family with little possibility to escape. Stories like these are heard almost everywhere, and the last thing any Bridgewater property owner needs is to realize that such a heartbreak has occurred to their residents.
Fuel-based models pose a higher risk than the electric heaters which are considered to be the safer option for residential use. Nevertheless, these electric heaters must be used under supervision and according to the recommended safety practices. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to injury caused by space heaters, which puts any resident with a family or pet at risk. Besides, there’s no guarantee that your residents will know or follow the recommended safety practices or use the space heater correctly, which may result in an unfavorable consequence.
Banning space heaters is not only a wise safety measure but also an important part of protecting yourself and your real estate investment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated that over 25,000 residential fires are caused by space heaters each year. These fires result in more than 300 deaths and 6,000 emergency room visits annually. Even though some of the injuries are burns from coming in contact with a space heater unit, some are far more severe. However, looking at those numbers alone, one could agree that space heaters aren’t safe at all.
As the rental property owner, you carry a high risk of liability if you allow your residents to use space heaters. While your landlord’s insurance covers the damage to the rental home itself, if a space heater has caused any loss of life or serious injury, that may result in further legal action against you. Lawsuits alleging negligence or worse could threaten not only your livelihood, but also your assets and, in some cases, your freedom.
Regular property evaluations are crucial to protecting your property from the dangers presented by space heaters. At Real Property Management NJ Elite, regular evaluations are a foundational piece of our property management program. We believe that the safety of your residents is a top priority, as is protecting you and your investment from the dangers of noncompliance. Contact us online or call us at 908-955-7487 to discover more about what we can accomplish for you.
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