As Canada and especially Toronto prepares for a surge in domestic travel this summer – as well as FIFA World Cup madness – many cottage owners are eager to capitalize on the demand for short-term rentals. But a home expert is asking owners if their properties are equipped for the invisible threat of carbon monoxide.
“As hosts, we want to showcase the absolute best of Canadian hospitality and that goes beyond aesthetic appeal. It requires paying close attention to the maintenance and safety of your property,” says Scott McGillivray, a nationally-recognized home expert and authority in vacation and income properties.
It’s important for property owners to ensure their rental properties are in top shape. “Think of safety as the ultimate premium feature that allows your hospitality to truly shine. While beautiful aesthetics and stunning photos might get guests through the door, it is the actual quality of the stay that defines their experience,” he says.
“That feeling of security and a worry-free environment is what turns a standard trip into an unforgettable vacation and it’s what inspires guests to give a glowing review. In the rental market, peace of mind is one of your best marketing tools.”
To-do list for rental safety
To get your space ready for peak season, McGillivray advises you to focus on the systems that keep your guests safe and comfortable:
- Check your alarms to ensure you have both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed and test them monthly as part of your regular maintenance. Research whether your provincial or municipal building codes have changed, which can impact how many alarms you need and where to install them.
- Check that vents for the dryer, furnace or other systems are free of debris or overgrown foliage to ensure proper airflow and prevent dangerous gases from building up in living spaces. Watch out for snow blockages in the winter, too.
- Arrange for a licensed professional to conduct an annual inspection of all fuel-burning appliances. Don’t forget outdoor amenities like barbecues or backup generators, which are common in vacation properties.
“The most common oversight is the ‘set it and forget it’ mindset. Vacation properties deal with unique stressors that are made worse by periods of vacancy that can quietly compromise your property’s systems and appliances without you realizing it,” says McGillivray.
“The greatest danger occurs when fuel-burning systems experience a malfunction and produce carbon monoxide, an invisible, odourless and tasteless gas that can be fatal when inhaled. That makes your carbon monoxide alarm one of the most critical safety devices in your space.”
He points to a recent survey by Kidde, a leader in home safety for more than 100 years, that revealed a significant gap among Canadian cottage owners. Forty-seven per cent of survey respondents admit their properties could be left at risk due to non-functional, missing or expired carbon monoxide alarms. Even among those who do have them, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) rarely or never test them.
“Testing both your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month is a critical part of maintaining these devices and is one of the common missteps of the ‘set it and forget it’ mindset,” McGillivray says.
