Annual Safety & Code Compliance Across a Small Rental Portfolio

Problem

A small landlord managing several single-family rentals had fireplaces of unknown condition and ages, no inspection records, and rising liability concern after a tenant reported a smoky firebox. Without documentation, the owner couldn't show diligence or know which units were actually safe to burn.

Diagnosis

We ran a CSIA-certified Level 1 (and Level 2 where access or findings required) inspection on each property. Findings ranged from a worn cap and heavy creosote in two units to a clearance-to-combustibles issue in an older unit where a remodel had framed wood too close to the flue — a genuine code defect, not cosmetic.

Solution

• 01Standardized per-property inspection with photographed condition grading
• 02Cleaning where creosote exceeded safe NFPA 211 thresholds
• 03Cap and screen replacements to keep out water and animals
• 04Corrected the clearance-to-combustibles defect to meet code
• 05Delivered a dated inspection report and findings file for each address

Outcome

Every unit ended on one documented standard, with a per-property file the owner can hand to tenants, insurers, or a buyer. The clearance defect — the one item that could have caused a fire — was caught and corrected because the program looked past the obvious cosmetic issues.