Landlord or Lord of the Land

• So, do you want to know the history of the word landlord? The word is dated back to the Roman Empire and it meant the owner and protector of land. Not just the land alone but the people who lived on that land, the peasants. Today we do not thing of a landlord as a protector of people, he is usually viewed as a guy we pay rent to and call on to fix things around the apartment like leaky pipes and infestation. We would hardly ever call on him to stop a Germanic Tribe invasion. But the truth is a landlord does protect his tenants from other life threatening hazards like fire. Fire safety is part of their job. In the present, a landlord is responsible for more than just land and the term is somewhat dated. Today he is referred to as a property manager and he may manage property of more than one type. Condo management, apartment management, commercial property management, and rental management all refer to the old landlord. He traded in his sword and bow for a monkey wrench and a clip board. Instead of fighting people off of his land, he shows and sells apartments.  Just like the Germanic Tribes, fire can strike anywhere at anytime so a landlord or property manager needs to be prepared. Fire extinguishers should be distributed throughout the rental property and they should be checked and recharged as necessary annually. Smoke detectors also need to be checked and tested by a fire by a fire prevention professional. There are many commercial property maintenance services available to property mangers. Make sure every tenant knows the best escape route for his or her apartment. Do not just display a sign. Physically show them the best and quickest way to safety so if a fire were to occur the tenant is familiar first hand with the exit route. If a landlord smells smoke or the smoke detectors start to scream, they should get the tenants out immediately. Then call the fire department from a cell phone or from a neighbors phone. They should never reenter a burning building for any reason. Leave fire fighting to the professionals as soon as they are on the scene. Remember, water does not put out all fires. In fact, it can make it worse depending on the type of fire. Never use water on electric, oil, or grease fires. Turn off the heat from the stove immediately, and use a lid or a large piece of metal cookie sheet to smother the flames. A landlord should shut off the gas at the commercial real estate property before fighting a gas fire. But if they cannot, they need to get everyone out of the apartment rentals immediately. If water is not immediately available try to smother a wood, paper, or fabric fire with a coat or heavy woolen blanket to cut off its air. A landlord can also cool the fire with water once it is available or with a fire extinguisher. Even if a fire is confined to a frying pan or wastebasket in the rental property, a landlord should never spend more than 30 seconds fighting the fire. Small fires can torch a condo or apartment building with frightening speed. If a tenants clothes are on fire, douse the flames with water or use a heavy blanket to smother the fire.

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