Step 4.b. Resilience for Renters
There are some simple steps you can take as a renter to help make your home ready and resilient in the event of a disaster, like securing items in cabinets and making sure those smoke detectors are working. Learn what to look for and talk with your landlord about how you can work together to make your home safer.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Home should be a place where we feel safe and secure. That’s true whether you own your home or you’re renting. Taking steps to prepare your home to be as resilient as possible in the event of a natural disaster just makes sense.
Some steps you can do as a renter, and some steps will require your landlord’s help or permission. When talking with your landlord, you can let them know there are significant benefits to taking actions. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, estimates that investments in steps to protect against disasters return fourfold, meaning for every $1 you invest to protect your home, you could save $4 in damages!
This action is part of the Get Prepared sequence, be sure to complete all Steps 1-4!
1Step 1: Know your local risks
Knowing what natural disaster risks you face is a huge first step in protecting your home! These risks vary widely both by geography and for each home.
Action: Identify your local risks
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Know your local risks: Have your disaster specific action list ready from Step 1. Find Local Risks and Resources.
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Identify risks around your home: Your home’s risks will also vary depending on its particular location and local features. Think about what happens around your home during different weather events. Do you live close to trees that might fall during a storm? Do you live at low elevation? A low elevation location, like a valley, may be at higher risk of flooding. Check for risks around your home and make a note of anything you find. A few things to look for include:
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Trees showing signs of distress that might fall during a storm. Consider contacting a qualified arborist to inspect and assess any large trees near your home.
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Check to see if you are in a floodplain — check your flood risk at floodfactor.com.
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Check to see if you are at risk for an avalanche or landslide. If you live at the base of a steep hillside or mountain, check with local emergency experts to assess your risk.
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Look for your proximity to the wildland urban interface, and your distance from a high wildfire risk area.
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Know whether you live in an area that is likely to have frequent power outages or public safety power shutoffs (where the power is shut down during extreme weather.)
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If you’re unsure about any features of your home or location, talk with your landlord or call a contractor with experience in local hazard mitigation for advice.
2Step 2: Identify and address non-structural hazards
Non-structural hazards include anything that isn’t part of the building itself that might be at risk or could cause damage.
Action: Identify and address non-structural hazards:
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Check and make sure large furniture, cabinets and hanging items are secure. Anchor large items to wall studs and install strong latches on cabinets or put heavy items closer to the floor. Don’t hang heavy items like pictures or mirrors near beds or couches where people sleep or sit.
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Check with your landlord to anchor overhead lighting fixtures to joists, and to bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs. Also make sure to check with your landlord about any dead or dying trees or tree limbs that need clearing.
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Check with your landlord on maintenance items like cleaning gutters, protecting pipes from freezing, and regularly checking for roof damage and water leaks.
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Check with your landlord on their plan to take care of these maintenance actions. If it is safe and you’re comfortable with it, you can offer to help out — maybe for a discount on the rent!
3Step 3: Check your rental property for structural hazards
Structural hazards are risks to your home that involve the building structure itself, like the roof, foundation, windows, and chimneys. As a renter, you are not responsible for these repairs, however, it is helpful to know what hazards are present so you can be informed and prepared.
Action: Check out your rental property
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Check for signs of damage. Examine the foundation, walls, ceiling, roof, and windows throughout your home for any cracks or signs of damage or decay. Check for water leaks or water damage and look for mold or mildew which could appear as black spots, a green furry substance or white threads on walls or in the basement or attic. Notice any strong odors. If you find anything that you think may indicate a structural hazard, contact your landlord and ask them to assess and repair any issues.
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Ask before you rent. If you’re looking for a new rental property, ask a few questions before signing a lease.
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Has this property ever been damaged by a natural disaster? (hurricane, tornado, wildfire, earthquake, severe freeze or storm, flood, landslide, tsunami, etc.)
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If this property was damaged in the past, when and to what extent was the damage? How was it repaired? (For example, was it just repainted or was damage repaired and mold treated?)
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When was the last time the home was checked for structural or safety issues?
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When was the last time the roof and interior and exterior walls were checked for mold or rot?
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If you are already renting, you can also ask your current landlord these questions as well. Let them know you are participating in a local effort to become prepared for disasters and asking these questions is part of the preparation process.
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4Step 4: Learn about tenants' rights in your area
Tenant’s rights vary by geography so it’s important to do your homework to know your rights as a renter.
Action: Learn about your rights as a tenant
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Find your rights
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Search online for “renter/tenant rights in [my city/my state].”
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The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a list of approved housing counseling agencies organized by state. You can call an agency in your region for questions specific to your home or location.
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Lease details: Check the following aspects of your lease agreement and your local rights. Make sure to read your lease carefully and ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
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Can a lease be terminated if a disaster makes the property uninhabitable? How is “uninhabitable” defined in your city and state?
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Would you get your security deposit back if the property is uninhabitable?
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As a renter, do you have to pay part or all of your rent if you must evacuate or stay away for a period of time after a disaster for repairs? This is illegal in many states!
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What are the eviction laws in your city and state?
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Get support: If you are concerned that asking your landlord questions about possible hazards or repairs might result in retaliation, including raising your rent or eviction, contacting your local tenants rights organization will help you learn the best way to protect yourself. You have rights and should be able to ask your landlord to provide a safe living space.
5Step 5: Add in Disaster Specific Home Preparations
There are a few additional steps that are important to preparing your home for many disasters. For example, if you are in a flood zone, it is important to know your Base Flood Elevation and have flood insurance, or for winter storms and extreme cold, it's important to have a safe backup heat source. Check the disaster specific actions that apply to your area and read through Step 3 and add any additional preparations to your list.
6Step 6: Install smoke, gas and carbon monoxide alarms, and get a fire extinguisher
Smoke, natural gas, and carbon monoxide alarms save lives! They are required in most states, but older homes may not have them. In most states your landlord is required to install them, however, if that is not the case in your state and you need to buy them, you can find them online or at your local hardware store for $15-25 each.
Action: Check for and request your landlord install any missing alarms
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Smoke alarms: Install on or near the ceilings in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area (like hallways), and in common spaces like living and family rooms.
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Carbon monoxide alarm: Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home, ideally 5 feet high (since carbon monoxide is lighter than air, it rises, just like smoke.) Some detectors cover both smoke and carbon monoxide and last for 10-15 years.
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Natural gas detector: Natural gas is different from carbon monoxide, and has different detectors. Like carbon monoxide, natural gas is lighter than air, so it rises. Place natural gas detectors 5 feet high on every level of your home, especially near sources of gas like furnaces, stoves, and water heaters.
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Maintain your alarms: Make sure to have extra batteries on hand and test your alarms at least twice a year.
Action: Get a fire extinguisher. There are few laws requiring landlords to provide a fire extinguisher, so you may need to get one. Make sure to purchase an ABC fire extinguisher, this means that it will work for the primary types of fires that could happen at home. You can buy one online or at your local hardware store for around $20-$30. Also, it’s important to know how to use your fire extinguisher! Watch this short helpful video to learn how.
7Step 7: Get renters insurance and other natural disaster insurance
Renters insurance is a smart investment regardless of natural disaster risk, as it usually covers things like personal property damage, living expenses if your home is temporarily uninhabitable, and medical costs if you’re injured on the property. Coverage is generally included for specific hazards such as damage from smoke, fire, lightning, leaking or freezing pipes, theft/vandalism, wind, snow and hail. However, renters insurance almost never covers damage from some disasters like floods or earthquakes, so it is important to make sure you have the coverage you need.
Action: Check your coverage, add insurance as needed and document.
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Check your coverage: Contact your insurance agent to verify what is covered and ask about what additional policies you may need. It’s ok to ask lots of questions!
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Check for affordable insurance for high risk areas: Renters insurance is more expensive the higher the risk. If you live in an area with a high risk and you are having trouble finding affordable insurance, investigate your state’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, which is a state-mandated, often privately-subsidized insurance program for high-risk locations.
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Consider flood insurance if your home is at risk for flooding: Most renters insurance policies do not cover flooding, even if the flood was caused by a natural disaster that is covered by your plan, like a hurricane or tornado. Check the Flood action for more info.
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Document your stuff! Finally, document all your valuable possessions with photos and receipts if you have them so you can be compensated if they are damaged — this will give you financial security and peace of mind. A quick video walkthrough of your home is an easy way to document less valuable items for insurance.
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Look for savings opportunities: If you purchase from the same company where you also get other insurance, like car insurance, or if you or your landlord makes disaster improvements to your home, such as adding smoke detectors or reinforced roofing, you may qualify for a discount on your insurance. Check with your agent to learn more.