There are daily updates about the current spread of the Coronavirus. Since this disease is spread between people who come in close contact with one another, apartment complexes and other types of shared living spaces pose a risk of a tenant who is infected spreading the virus to other residents of the building. If you are a landlord for an apartment complex, here are several tips on how you can prepare, communicate, and help keep your tenants safe during this coronavirus pandemic.

1. Showing Rental Units

Consider offering a virtual apartment tour instead of the usual in-person visits that you would provide. Phone apps such as Facetime will provide you with a way to show prospective tenants the apartment in real-time without the need for personal contact. Another option is to use a lock box to allow potential renters the option to enter a vacant unit and tour it on their own. If you choose to use a lock box, attempt to find a service that provides codes for a set amount of time or that requires those who view the property to provide you with contact information before they receive the code.

2. Maintenance Requests

When it comes to maintenance requests, it is essential to let your tenants know that emergencies will be a priority and taken care of as soon as possible. It is a good idea to send a letter to your tenants to let them know that you are now prioritizing maintenance requests. Mention that emergencies will be handled first and then other non-emergency applications. Ask your tenants to be flexible when it comes to repairs during these unprecedented times.

3. Closing Amenities

When it comes to closing amenities, follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you do not think that you will be able to maintain any of the amenities at your property correctly, you should close it down. It is a good idea to close common areas such as recreation rooms, workout facilities, pools, and basketball courts as these are all places where people might gather, which is not recommended at this time. It is vital to post-closure notices on these areas and to make sure that your renters all know that these amenities will be temporarily unavailable because of the guidance the CDC has issued as well as other governmental entities.

All laundry facilities should remain open, and it is a good idea to make sure that you are cleaning these areas more frequently. If you cannot keep your laundry facilities open for any reason, it is an excellent idea to let your tenants know this well in advance and provide them with information about laundromats that are close to the apartment building that they might use.

4. Cleaning

One of the most important things that you can do as the owner of an apartment complex during this time is to make sure that common areas are being cleaned frequently. If there is an elevator in your building, make sure that the buttons are being wiped down often. The stairwells should be cleaned more often as well. Any area that is commonplace for your tenants to walkthrough should be cleaned as regularly as possible. Lobbies and hallways are low-risk areas as most tenants will not be touching surfaces in these areas, but it is still essential to make sure that they are being cleaned regularly. Encourage tenants to wear gloves and wash their hands frequently. It is a good idea to set up hand sanitizer stations around the building to encourage your residents to sanitize their hands, at least when they are in common areas of the building.

5. Infected Tenants

If one of your tenants becomes infected, it is essential to note that you do not have a duty to inform the other residents of the building. Providing the name of the infected individual or even being more general and stating an unnamed tenant in the building has tested positive for the virus can open you up to a liability suit. The best option is not to say anything. If you do find out that someone in your building is infected, the best thing that you can do is increase your cleaning protocols in all of the common areas of the building. This includes mopping and vacuuming floors more frequently and wiping down all of the counters, tables, doorknobs, and other areas that people touch often.