Covid-19 has presented a lot of challenges when it comes to tenant safety. There was a delicate balance between checking on unit safety vs tenant health when it came to Covid-19. This was more prevalent in 2020 and the first half of 2021. How do you check on CO and smoke detectors during a pandemic? Most tenants were open to us using safety protocols for entering their unit and checking detectors. Our normal course of action is annual checkup of all detectors. We check the date of the detectors, replace CO batteries, tag and login the information. We found some tenants needed some persuading while some were just flat out “NO”. While we have a legal right to enter with proper notice it’s better to take a more inclusive approach. We found creative ways working around their fears and making sure safety was upheld. Leaving detectors in a box for us to handle the process was one way. We did explain a 6 month check may be necessary for us to make sure they were in working order. Tenant safety is always #1 but it can be a challenge. Not everything in life is a straightforward answer; sometimes you need to be creative in order for you to meet the objective.
By Brian S