Safety is one of the biggest concerns tenants have when choosing a vacation rental. Also, when security problems appear during the rental, their resolution is often very complex and completely spoils the tenants' stay. The result is particularly negative reviews, harmful to your reputation on online platforms. As a landlord, it is your responsibility to create a safe and reassuring environment for your tenants. Our Hyères concierge offers you a list of 10 best practices and essential equipment to guarantee the security of your Airbnb rental.
Prevention for tenants
The first step to ensuring the safety of your tenants is communication. Before their arrival, provide them with detailed information on the location of your rental, any advice on how to access it safely (for accommodation in the mountains in particular), local emergency numbers, and security rules specific to your rental. This may concern the heating system, the rental home automation, the kitchen equipment or any other point that may require a certain amount of vigilance or special knowledge to be used or handled in good conditions. This prevention is done, in our concierge service in Hyères, often during check-in, an ideal time to present the equipment and its operation in person.
Secure carpentry and rental access doors
Invest in quality locks for all access doors to your rental. This applies both to apartments which, apart from common areas, must be secure, but also to houses and villas. Smart locks with customizable access codes are particularly popular because they eliminate the need for physical keys and allow access to be tracked and often set a specific code for the rental period. You can also opt for lockable windows and an intrusion detection system. The latter will also be useful to you outside the rental period, when the accommodation remains empty in low season.
Don't forget smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Equip your vacation rental with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure they are checked regularly and the batteries are changed regularly. This equipment is the basis of risk prevention and only costs a few euros. Their acquisition cost is therefore low and, compared to their importance, there is no reason to do without them. Of course, this does not happen without regular maintenance of the accommodation and monitoring of their proper functioning at each end of the rental. Note that our Concierge Hyeres systematically checks the operation of this equipment during cleaning and end-of-stay restocking.
Have fire extinguishers available and inform your tenants
Place fire extinguishers in strategic locations throughout the property, such as the kitchen and hallways. Make sure your tenants know their location and usage. Also be sure to inform tenants verbally and via a paper guide of the operation of this equipment and the means to cut off the electricity and water in the accommodation in the event of an accident requiring rapid intervention and a temporary cut-off of these networks.
Don't underestimate outdoor lighting
Adequate outdoor lighting is essential for nighttime safety. Install motion-sensing lights near entrances, paths and parking areas to deter intruders. This will not only be practical for you tenants when they return to their accommodation at night after an excursion while being particularly dissuasive for people with bad intentions. By coupling this with a video surveillance system, obviously in compliance with regulations, you will allow your tenants to feel completely safe from intrusions.
The safe: a valued asset
Offer your tenants the opportunity to store their valuables safely by installing a safe in the property. This is often not a common use and few tenants are used to finding this equipment in Airbnb rentals. However, it is a real plus for some travelers.
Create a dedicated guide to housing security
Provide clear instructions on how to evacuate the property in the event of an emergency, such as evacuation plans and emergency exits. Also indicate all the conditions of use of dangerous equipment in the home and ideally attach the instructions for use. Your tenants will thus have all the keys in hand to use the accommodation in good safety conditions and will know perfectly well the procedure to follow in the event of a major problem during their stay.
Offer 24/7 support
Be available to address your tenants' concerns 24/24. This can be accomplished through a messaging app or emergency number. 7/7 assistance is certainly one of the major points of your relationship with tenants: by remaining available to answer their questions and expectations, you will show not only that your tenants are at the center of your attention but also that they are supported on a daily basis. A real added and reassuring value for many tenants.
Don't underestimate home maintenance
Make sure all safety equipment is in good working order. Check them regularly and make repairs when necessary. Each cleaning of the accommodation or passage through the rental must be an opportunity to check the good condition of all the networks (water, electricity, gas, etc.) and the good condition of the appliances. By carrying out this monitoring on a daily basis, you minimize the risks of unforeseen events during your stay. Focus on prevention above all else.
Online privacy and security
Today, risks are also immaterial. Educate your tenants about the importance of protecting their privacy online, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks. Encourage them to use virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure their connection. You yourself, make sure to keep any personal data of your tenants stored securely, to secure access to the wifi of your rental and to use the messaging services of the online platforms in compliance with the conditions of use described by the sites.
By following these best practices and investing in essential safety equipment, you can provide your tenants with a reassuring and secure stay experience. Additionally, safe vacation rentals will result in better reviews and greater customer loyalty, which is beneficial to your rental business in the long run. Remember to stay up to date with local safety regulations to ensure your vacation rental meets all applicable standards.
