Keep Your Home Safe This Holiday Season: A Renter’s Guide

The holiday season tends to change the rhythm of everyday life. It usually brings more guests, more deliveries, and more time spent away from home. Each of these shifts affects how secure your apartment is, which makes holiday safety especially important for renters.  

This guide focuses on how seasonal habits impact your home and what you can do to keep it protected during the busiest time of the year. 

Handle decorations and appliances safely 

Holiday lights and decorations create a festive atmosphere, but they also increase electrical fire risks. Before decorating, inspect all light strings for frayed wires, broken bulbs, or loose connections. Replace damaged items immediately. 

Here are a few more quick safety steps: 

• Use power strips with built-in circuit breakers instead of plugging multiple decorations into one outlet. 
• Choose LED lights, which stay cool and use less electricity. 
• Turn off all the decorations before leaving home or going to bed. 
• Keep decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like radiators or space heaters. 
• If you have a real Christmas tree, water it daily to keep it from drying out and reduce the risk of fire. 

Protect your packages and deliveries 

Since most renters can't control their building's security, focus on what you can manage to reduce the risk of your packages being stolen. Consider these strategies: 

• Ship packages to your workplace if possible. 
• Use lockers or similar secure pickup locations. 
• Request signature-required delivery for valuable items. 
• Set up delivery notifications so you can retrieve packages quickly. 
• Consider a simple doorbell camera or motion-activated light.  

Host gatherings without the hazards 

Holiday parties change the way your home operates. Extra foot traffic means more chances for slips, spills, or blocked exits. A little preparation keeps everyone safe and your security deposit intact. 

Before guests arrive: 

• Clear hallways and exits of clutter. 
• Secure or remove breakable decorations from high-traffic areas. 
• If children are visiting, lock away cleaning supplies, medications, and small decorations. 
• Test all smoke detectors and note the nearest fire exit. 
• If you use space heaters, keep them out of busy areas in your apartment and never leave them running unattended.  

Secure your apartment when you travel 

Many renters travel at some point during the season, even if just for a weekend. Here are a few ways to prepare your home and protect your belongings while you're away: 

• Use timers to turn the lights on and off automatically to make it seem like someone is home. 
• Hold mail delivery if you're gone for more than three days. 
• Ask a neighbor you trust to check on your apartment. 
• Avoid posting travel photos on social media until you return. 
• Consider battery-powered door and window alarms — they're renter-friendly and affordable. 

Prepare for cold-weather risks 

Colder temperatures mean more heaters, blankets, and electric warmers in use. While comforting, they add risk if placed too close to furniture or left on overnight. You may not be responsible for major repairs in your apartment, but you can prevent issues that could still damage your rental or belongings. 

Here’s how to stay prepared: 

• Keep space heaters on stable surfaces, away from furniture and curtains. 
• If temperatures drop below freezing, let faucets drip slightly to prevent pipe freezing. 
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to help warm air circulate around pipes. 
• Never use ovens or stovetops to heat your home, as this can release carbon monoxide. 
• Report any heating problems to your landlord immediately.   

Why renters insurance matters even more during the holidays 

Even with strong prevention habits, accidents can still happen. Renters insurance helps cover losses from fire, theft, and certain types of accidental damage. It’s especially helpful during the holidays because belongings like gifts, electronics, and decorations tend to increase in value around this time. Think of it as a safety net for unexpected situations. 

The holidays should be about joy, not emergencies. By building these safety habits into your seasonal routine, you protect your home and belongings, giving you peace of mind. 

Remember that small actions prevent big problems. Taking a few minutes to secure decorations, plan deliveries, and prepare for travel can save you thousands in damages and ensure your holidays stay merry and bright.