Find Out How to Keep Your Apartment Safe

Get tenant insurance

• Inventory your belongings so you may estimate their total worth for more accurate quotes from insurance companies
• Shop around for multiple quotes to get the best deal
• See if your car insurance company offers rental insurance options--bundling insurance will help save money
• Make sure to ask each company if you will receive the Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV) for stolen or damaged belongings
  • ACV - the total cost of your items when they were taken (depreciation is accounted for)
  • RCV - the market value of the items (regardless of how long you've had them)
• Ask what is and what isn't covered
  • For example, basic liability coverage includes any damage done to the building (this may be helpful when it comes time to get your security deposit back)

Protect your apartment

• Lock and bolt doors and windows when leaving your apartment and draw your blinds and/or curtains
• Turn on exterior lights in the evening
• Have maintenance fix broken screens, locks and windows if damage occurs
• Invest in a bar for any sliding glass doors
• Don't broadcast your vacation plans to the whole apartment building, instead hide signs that you've left
  
  • Have your mail held by the Canada Post
  • Ask a trusted neighbour to check in on your apartment and bring in your mail

TIP: Just moved into your apartment? Request that the locks be changed for new ones so previous tenants don't have access to your secured rental.

Protect yourself

• Lock and bolt your door when you arrive home and lock windows when you go to sleep at night--also make sure that sliding glass door bar is in place
• Be sure to turn and keep exterior lights on when it gets dark to deter break-ins
• Check your carbon monoxide detector to make sure it's functioning
• If you are being followed, do not lead this person to your apartment--briskly walk to a public, well-lit area instead
• Get a dog for companionship and to alert you to/protect you from danger
• Keep a flashlight and your phone near your bed at night for emergencies

Practice fire safety

• Create and practice an exit strategy in case of fire
  • This plan should have multiple exits should one or more be blocked
• Purchase a fire extinguisher/make sure your current extinguisher isn't expired
  • Place extinguishers in strategic places throughout your apartment (especially the kitchen)
• Check on a regular basis that your smoke detectors have working batteries
• Turn off items like the stove, portable heaters and hair styling tools and blow out candles when you leave your home
• Be on the lookout for and resolve potential fire hazards, including:
  • Curtains too close to candles
  • Flammable furniture near heating sources
  • Dirty stove tops and ovens
  • Overloaded electrical outlets

Ultimately, use your common sense when it comes to protecting yourself. Safety may not be the top priority in your life, but it should always come first.