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title: How can my property be of high risk for my guests?
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## How can my property be of high risk for my guests?

In such a competitive industry of property rental, you’re always thinking of ways to separate yourself from the crowd. One of the more obvious ways of doing so is highlighting the many amenities your property has to offer. With summer at its hottest, promoting a property can certainly set you apart but what you may not think of right away is the risk associated with this particular amenity. Amenities such as a property or lakefront property require particular attention to property safety standards for your guests.

**1. Understand what “Negligence” is**

Before we get into property safety standard specifics, we need to discuss negligence as it pertains to vacation rentals and why it’s important to understand.

Simply put, negligence is the failure to “take care in doing something”. Once someone agrees to pay you for a service such as renting your home, you must take greater care in evaluating risks in your home. It’s “negligence” that puts you in a position where a renter and their lawyer may see an opportunity to prove that their injury was a result of your inattention to safety details.

When it comes to lawsuits in the U.S., you can be sued for just about anything, and there are endless opportunities for accidents in a vacation home. This is of course where insurance comes in. However, even insurance has its limitations, and if a guest can prove your negligence caused their injury, the more likely you are to exceed your insurance liability limits. On the other hand, the more you focus on safety in your home the less opportunity for negligence on your part. If there were an injury, this effort would not only increase your insurance company’s chances of winning the case but greatly reduce the potential payout ordered by a judge.

**2. Why your property can pose such a high risk?**

From an insurance perspective, claims due to injury at a property are rather common, so anything you can do to reduce risk at this exposure is a great place to start. The truth is you simply don’t know who’s staying in your rental and their ability to swim may vary widely. Removing hazards such as diving boards, slides, and non-certified floatation devices can greatly reduce the chance of an accident. Many listings neglect to address these issues because it’s not a requirement or they don’t think they will get as many bookings without these features. Most simply don’t consider the risk.

**3. Ensure Safe Usage of Diving Boards and Slides**

Diving boards and slides are fun features at city propertys for children and adults, but there is a huge liability concern when it comes to offering these features to your short-term rental guests.

Unlike city propertys, there will be no lifeguard on duty if someone were to be injured. It’s also difficult to know the abilities of your guests, and whether they understand how to use these items safely. This opens your business up to unnecessary legal risks in the event of an injury. For these and other reasons, it’s important to hold your rental to property safety standards, as many insurance providers may require you to remove your diving board and slide to diminish the liability concern and potential for negligence on your part.

**4. Use Depth Markers**

Depth markers are a part of our property safety standards, as you will notice at any public property such as a city property or your local hotel. With depth markets on all four sides of the property, families, and guests are warned and can judge their and their children’s swimming capabilities accordingly. The property safety standards should be no different at your short-term rental.

Having “warnings” in place can greatly reduce your negligence if a guest were to be injured at your property. In addition to the depth markers, you will often see a ‘no diving’ sign at the shallow end. These details are important safety reminders for your guests.

If there were an accident, your insurance carrier will have a better chance of succeeding on a verdict if a guest and their lawyer see an opportunity to claim their injury was due to your negligence.

**5. Make Rescue Equipment Available 24/7**

Rescue equipment should also be a priority for your vacation rental guests. When you go to a Hilton and use their property, you’ll notice all types of warnings, waivers, and equipment in the water area. Rescue equipment such as a lifesaving property ring or buoy is always posted on a surrounding wall or somewhere close at hand. You can bet the hotel is going to utilize all precautions to make sure their guests stay safe, and it should be no different for you as a short-term rental host.

If you don’t know the abilities of your guests, and providing rescue equipment could help your guests stay safe if there were to be an accident. Including these safety features will also help your insurance carrier battle a lawsuit if your guest were to be injured.

**6. Safe property Toys and Floats**

While it isn’t a barrier to entry for insurance, providing property toys and floats to your guests could increase your liability exposure. The reason is that by including them with your rental you are inadvertently encouraging those who may not be the best swimmers to go for a dip, which could ultimately result in drowning.

Some floatation devices, like many life vests, are certified by the U.S. coast guard and come with proper use instructions. Your insurance company may advise that you only provide these devices as they are rated for safe use. Others are simply buoyant material, that may pop or not support a floating guest. It’s best to keep these away from your rental.
