It is important to feel safe at home and in the neighborhood where one takes up residence. If the owner must ensure that housing is safe, be aware that global security depends on the location.
Security issues are not the same in city and countryside. In cities, tenants assess the rate of crime in the neighborhood, lighting of parking areas, driveways and walkways and the overall safety of the building and housing. In rural areas, the critical issues of security are the mobile phone coverage, access to emergency services and the distance between the housing points of medical services after regular business hours.
When you go homes, ask yourself the following questions:
? The neighborhood is safe?
? The building and housing is safe?
? The building is well equipped to prevent fires, have emergency exits.
Neighborhood Safety
Determine safety of the neighborhood before signing your lease. Calculate the running time needed to go to shops and public transportation stop closest, and if you have a vehicle in the parking where you should park your vehicle.
Take a tour of the neighborhood at night. Visit the area during the day and visualize the happenings.
Safety Building and Housing
The easiest way to begin the safety assessment of housing potential is to inspect the physical security of premises.
? Check the locks on all windows and all doors. For added security, ask the owner to change all locks and security codes when you take possession of the unit.
? The exterior lighting systems connected to timers.
? Locks on sliding glass doors can be easily forced. Make the prevention.
? In the case of an apartment building, check the vulnerable areas being monitored by camera?
In the countryside, it is important to consider the following risks:
? deep wells are not covered;
? large sheds and barns in poor condition
? isolation and lack of sources of help in an emergency;
? roads impassable in bad weather;
? Poor water quality.
Protect your Property
Tenants - never hold it for granted that your landlord's insurance will cover the contents of your home in case of theft or fire. Do the home work and take action to protect yourself.
Safety in case of fire
What would happen if a fire started? Check that all the required equipments are in place.
Rise buildings
These alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exits and switches are they easily accessible and well maintained? Would you be able to get out without using the elevator if you were disabled?
Basement
If the main entrance was impassable, could you escape through a window?