Most renters in Miami, Florida want their rental to be safe, but some older rental units could have lead paint and asbestos. However, unsafe materials aren’t the only concern renters have. The location of the rental could be in a high crime area. Although landlords have a legal obligation to disclose information about the rental, potential tenants can take measures to ensure safety.
Landlords should make the property safe by adding deadbolts and pins in locks, which may be required by law. A deadbolt helps the renter keep the place securer. Some other steps landlords could take are trimming tall bushes or plants, installing alarms, and adding extra lighting. Many landlords prohibit illegal drug activity in contracts, and they sometimes evict people for that reason alone.
The building itself can be hazardous. Before landlords let renters sign the lease agreement, they are required by law in most states to inform potential renters of toxins. They may be required to include fire exits and carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in each unit. While some states require landlords to make reasonable repairs, they usually aren’t required to make major repairs before leasing a property.
Tenants can search crime stats for the area that will give them an idea of what to expect and find out if the landlord takes the proper safety measures. They should look at the house to check ventilation, windows, outlets, and overall structure as well as get information on when it was built and the materials used for building it. They may buy renters insurance that pays in cases of personal property damage.
Renters are entitled to safe accommodations. If they believe a landlord has failed to make a unit safe enough to avoid an accident or property damage, a landlord-tenant lawyer could help them with litigation.
