Power Outage Guide: Keeping Your Tenants Safe in Winter
What to Do If Power Goes Out for Your Tenants in Winter
As a landlord, you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your tenants inside their home. This includes power outage situations, especially in the middle of a Massachusetts winter where your tenants could be in danger without heating. What should you do if the power goes out for your tenants? What are your legal obligations? How can you keep your tenants safe if the power goes out in winter?
We can help you navigate the right course to take during a tenant power outage and how to prepare for outages in the future.
First, Call the Utility Company
The first step after your tenants report a power outage is to get in touch with the utility company. Determine if the outage is regional and inquire about the timeline to see it fixed. This achieves two goals: First, you stay informed about the situation for your tenants. Second, you can confirm that the issue is not a problem with the property’s breakers or electrical system.
- Create a formal inquery and keep your case/report number
- Request as much information as the power company can provide regarding what caused the outage and when it will be fixed.
- Request or track live updates and keep your tenants informed.
Reset the Breakers or Send Repairs, If Necessary
If the power outage is not a local utility issue, then it may be a problem with the electrical system in your rental house. First, walk your tenants through resetting the breaker box over the phone. If that doesn’t solve the problem, then send a trusted electrician service to investigate and enact any necessary repairs.
Keep Your Tenants Warm During Extended Outages
During a Massachusetts winter, any outage that lasts more than an hour becomes a risk that your tenants (and pipes) may freeze. Whether the utility company will take some time to reconnect the power or the home requires electrical repairs, your tenants will need alternative ways to keep warm.
Battery-Powered Blankets and Space Heaters
It may be possible to provide your tenants with battery-powered electric blankets or block batteries with space heaters to keep warm for a day or two while repairs are underway. You can also provide auxiliary lighting and other supplies. USB battery banks and USB-powered heating devices are the safest ways to provide temporary power and heating.
Keeping Warm by the Fireplace
If the home has a fireplace in good condition and your tenants are comfortable lighting a fire, providing a cord of firewood can help your tenants keep warm in the main room during the power outage.
Alternative Lodgings
If the outage is extensive or your tenants have at-risk household members, you may consider providing alternative lodgings until the power is restored.
Good Advice and Ready Support
In most cases, tenants will be able to manage for themselves during temporary power outages and you are not obligated to provide material assistance if the outage is regional in nature. Sharing good advice on how to keep warm, prevent food from spoiling, and camp comfortably in the house until the power comes back are ways to help your tenants if they are otherwise self-sufficient.
From there, remain attentive and informed about the outage and ready to provide additional assistance if the situation becomes more dire.
A Landlord’s Legal Obligation in a Power Outage
Is a landlord legally liable for power outages? It depends on the source.
- You are not liable for regional power outages that must be fixed by the utility company, even though the outage creates potentially unsafe living conditions.
- You are liable if the power outage was caused by an electrical flaw or failure in the home.
If the power outage is the responsibility of the utility company, a registered inquery and report can prove that you have taken steps to restore the power for your tenants as soon as possible.
Preparing for the Next Power Outage
Power outages are a common occurrence in any area, so it’s always best to ensure your properties and tenants are prepared for the next one. There are several steps you can take to minimize the worry when the power goes out.
- Insulate your pipes: Prevent power outage burst pipes in the winter. Encasing insulation is better than heat wire when the power goes out.
- Share an outage guide: Send your tenants a power outage guide including tips on how to keep warm and prevent food spoilage.
- Provide emergency warmth: Prepare a stock of firewood, an emergency tote of blankets, and/or battery/USB heating items to keep your tenants warm during temporary winter outages.
- Have an electrician on call: In case the power outage is a property problem, have a trusted electrician with a 24/7 emergency service ready to call.
- Alternative lodging plans: Always be ready to provide your tenants with alternative lodgings at a safe and affordable hotel nearby.
Prepare for Emergencies with Leaf Management
Emergency situations like a winter power outage are easier to navigate with a property management team on your side. You can keep in touch with the power company and ensure your tenants are safe with the help of Leaf Management. Contact us to upgrade your tenant care capabilities to handle any emergency in any season.