Advice to landlords: Eight tips on how to keep your buildings safe in these record-breaking cold temperatures

We recently hit record-breaking low temperatures which we have not experienced in over a century. Forecasters say that this trend of frigid-cold weather is here to stay with us for a while. Here are some important steps for landlords to take in order to make sure that these cold temperatures do not shatter your bottom line. Liability / Slip and Falls Slip and falls are the most common type of accidents resulting in law suits against landlords. 1. Sidewalks: Start from the ground up. Cracks in the sidewalks are a very common cause for slip and falls, even when they are visible. But when they are covered in snow it is even a greater hazard. So make sure that all the sidewalks and pathways around your buildings are in perfect condition with no cracks or bumps. 2. Snow and ice: As soon as it starts to snow or even rain, make sure to shovel and salt the surface in front of your building. Re-salt at night as some snow can melt during the day and form new ice. Black ice can be more dangerous than snow in many cases. 3. Lobby/Entrance: Wet conditions outside mean that the lobby or the entrance to your building is definitely going to be wet and slippery. Make sure to have dry carpets at the entrance of your buildings, and a heating blower if necessary. 4. Lighting: Make sure that the front and all-around your building is well lit, so that visitors and tenants can see where they are going and where to watch for ice. 5. Surveillance Cameras: Unfortunately some people try to take advantage of this hard weather and file bogus slip and fall claims against the landlord. Make sure to have cameras outside your building as well as in the lobby, entrance, hallways and stairwells. This can make all the difference in having your claim dismissed in a day, or dragged on for as long as a decade with excessively high payouts for undeserved settlements! Property Damage Take these steps to avoid unnecessary property damage that can lead to costly repairs, unnecessary insurance claims and higher energy bills. 6. Boilers: If your boiler is in the basement of your building, make sure the temperature in the basement does not drop to lower than 55°. If you are having a hard time keeping the basement warm, a good idea would be to insulate all the pipes in the basement. This will also cut your energy bills. 7. Vacant buildings: If you have a vacant building, or know that one of your units is empty in these cold weather conditions, make sure to run the heat in the building so the temperature does not drop and cause a pipe to burst. Also turn on the sink faucets from time to time to prevent the water in pipes from freezing and bursting. If you have a large building that is very costly to heat up in its entirety, drain the water from all pipes. Do not forget about those sprinklers. 'Sprinkler Leakage' will be excluded in most vacant building policies. 8. Roof collapse: Ensure that your building's roof is in good condition and can hold the weight of heavy snow and ice. Look for cracks which could lead to water leaking into your building. It is never too late to clean gutters so they can get the water off your roof once the weather warms up a bit. Izzy Green is president and CEO of Evergreen Insurance & Risk Management, Monsey, N.Y.