In just one week we'll experience the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year. Summer is the season for enjoying swimming, backyard barbecues and carefree days. For a few short months you can kiss routine good-bye and instead say hello to sitting in the sunshine, sipping lemonade, and singing campfire songs. If you’re in a rental living situation you might have the luxury of soaking up the rays by the pool anytime you want, firing up the barbecue on your patio, and staying out later than usual. To make sure you enjoy a fun and SAFE summer, we have some summertime safety tips for you.

1. Rental Living Pool Safety

One of the perks of apartment rental living is that many complexes come with access to a swimming pool. However, not all apartment swimming pools have lifeguards on duty. You must swim at your own risk! We encourage you to take advantage of some quality pool time to cool off this summer, but remember to:

• Wear plenty of sunscreen
• Remind kids not to run because it might be slippery
• Wear proper swimming attire, like a swimsuit, swim trunks, goggles, flip flops or water shoes
• Don’t dive into the deep end
• Make sure your child wears proper floatation devices or a life jacket if they can’t swim well
• If kids are swimming they must be supervised by an adult
• Follow all posted apartment complex rules

2. Rental Living Barbecue Safety

There’s nothing better on a summer evening than a friendly neighborhood cook out! Can’t you just smell the steaks sizzling on the barbecue and taste the mouth-watering monster burgers? Most rental living spaces come with a patio or porch, which can mean close-quarters. You want to be aware of your surroundings when firing up the barbecue and take proper precautions such as:

• Keeping a fire extinguisher nearby, just in case
• Know how to operate your barbecue – grills, gas, and charcoal all work a little differently
• Don’t breathe in too much smoke
• Make sure your barbecue is in a good location, and not close to something that could catch on fire like plants, furniture or the building itself
• Place your barbecue in a spot away from where kids are playing so they don’t accidentally burn themselves
• Watch out for flare ups caused by using lighter fluid, grease from the food you’re cooking, or obstruction in the path of the fuel
• Clean the grill regularly
• Never use a grill indoors

3. Rental Living Late Night Safety

Since it stays light later during the summer, it’s easy to stay out later doing fun activities. Whether you’re on a leisurely bike ride or walk, attending an event, or arriving home from a day trip, it’s always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and plan accordingly by:

• Wearing light color or reflective clothing if you’re doing an activity like riding your bike or going for a walk
• Putting on bug spray to keep the mosquitoes away
• Having your cell phone on hand
• Trying not to walk alone after dark in poorly lit areas or away from people
• Telling a friend, family member or trusted neighbor if you’ll be out of town for the day or arriving home late at night
• Staying in well-lit areas
• Leaving a light on in your apartment if you know you’ll be home late
• Quickly surveying the area when walking from your car to your apartment
• Reporting any suspicious activity

Rental living can offer some great summertime perks, like access to a swimming pool, friendly cook outs, and neighbors close by to make sure you’re safe. Keep these tips in mind this summer and have some fun in the sun.

For more helpful tips check out our Rental Resource page!