Millions of college students are making one of the most important decisions in their college careers: where to live for the next year. This list of questions will help anyone in the Temple community make safer choices before signing a lease.
You should ask six major questions:
1. Are fire sprinklers present in the building?
For anyone living off campus, one of the best places to live is in a sprinklered building. The statistics speak for themselves: According to the National Fire Protection Association, when sprinklers are present, the chances of dying in a fire and the average property loss per fire are both cut by one-half to two-thirds, compared to where sprinklers are not present.
2. Are smoke detectors in all bedrooms and all floors?
Look for working smoke detectors in the apartment or house you are considering. Ask the landlord to show testing records or ask to test the detector while you are touring the residence. NFPA notes that automatic fire sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 82 percent when compared to having neither.
3. Do basement bedrooms have egress windows?
Most building and fire codes require egress windows to be at least 24 inches high, 20 inches wide, and not more than 44 inches off the floor. Many converted residences off campus will have basement bedrooms, and you should check with the local building or fire department to ensure the windows meet code.
4. Purchase renter’s insurance.
Many students wrongly assume their parents’ insurance will cover them; this is not true in most cases. Contact a local insurance agent for a quote or visit http://rentersinsurance.com for information about obtaining insurance, which for renters often costs only a few dollars per month. You, the renter, are financially responsible for other dwellings should you cause a fire that affects others.
5. Check for fire extinguishers.
When you’re touring a residence, you should find fire extinguishers in the garage, near the mechanical rooms/closet and near the kitchen. If they are not present, ask the landlord to provide new extinguishers and training on how to use them. If the landlord is not willing to provide training, ask the local fire department to come by and check the extinguisher placement and provide training.
6. When was the property last inspected for fire safety?
Ask for a copy of the last property inspection. In some cases, you may not be able to obtain one if you are not the owner, but the landlord should be able to produce a copy of the inspection report.
You have a right to safe housing. Just as you would return a car or electronic device if all the features were not working, you have a right to return housing to the landlord, or not rent it at all, if the safety features are not working right or in place.
For further information, contact Ben Evans in Risk Management at 215-204-1674. If you have other health and safety questions, suggestions or concerns, e-mail the Health & Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.