While the majority of seniors in Alberta are homeowners, there has been a noticeable trend of increasing renters among older adults over the last decade. For many seniors, renting offers lower maintenance and financial flexibility, allowing them to age in place while maintaining a level of independence and living in a community. However, there are still many rental properties that do not meet the unique needs of seniors, losing the opportunity to appeal to a pool of tenants who are often reliable and want to rent long-term. If you’re a landlord wanting to attract senior tenants, we’re going to walk you through our recommendations to transform your rental into a safer, comfortable and senior-friendly property.
Our Recommendations to Make Your Rental Property Senior-Friendly
1 – Slip-Risk Reducing Measures
Seniors are vulnerable to slips and falls, which often lead to injuries. The bathrooms and kitchen tend to be the higher-risk areas, where water and moisture may be present. To make your property’s floors safer, replace loose rugs with wall-to-wall carpeting or opt for non-glossy, textured surfaces like vinyl planks or matte-finish ceramic tiles with a rougher texture with anti-slip coatings. For extra safety, add anti-slip strips or treat the tile with other anti-slip options like special coating or epoxies in the areas where falls are more likely to add extra traction. Another essential amenity to reduce the risk of falls is installing grab bars and handrails in areas like bathrooms and stairs to offer support when standing, sitting, or navigating slippery areas.
2 – Adequate Lighting
Aging eyes need more light to see clearly, and poor lighting can lead to missteps, especially in high-traffic or more dangerous areas like stairs and entryways. Ensure proper lighting throughout the property by installing daylight LED bulbs that mimic the sun’s natural light and are recommended for reducing eye strain and doing daily tasks like cooking, reading or walking around the property.
3 – Reduce Tripping-Hazards
As we mentioned above, most senior falls happen in the most obvious places, like stairs and bathrooms. However, many falls are triggered by small and easily overlooked hazards like an uneven floorboard, or even a poorly placed piece of furniture or a loose electrical cord. Here’s what you can do to reduce these hazards:
- Replace High Thresholds: Even a half-inch elevation between rooms can cause a toe to catch and lead to a fall. To avoid this, you can create flush thresholds between sliding doors and low-level thresholds to merge the spaces seamlessly or, if a flush threshold isn’t feasible, install a low-profile transition ramp made of rubber or beveled wood to reduce abrupt height differences between rooms.
- Secure Electrical Cords: Loose cords across walking paths are easy to trip over, especially if they blend in with the floor. Tuck away or secure power cords along walls using cord covers, cable management boxes, wall-mounted clips or raceways to clear the pathways.
- Rearrange the Furniture: Tight or cluttered spaces increase the likelihood of bumping into or tripping over furniture; that’s why we recommend placing the furniture 36 inches or more in width between furniture pieces to allow for easy movement for tenants with walkers or canes.
4 – Do Regular Check-Ins
Since senior tenants have unique needs, you should communicate with them more frequently. Ask them or their caregivers if they’ve encountered any new mobility challenges, and when you’re doing on-site visits, keep an eye out for worn flooring, shifting furniture, or new clutter that might imply a risk of accidents.
Creating a Senior-Friendly Rental
Making a rental property senior-friendly isn’t just about compliance or aesthetics—it’s about promoting safety, comfort, and independence for an important and growing segment of the renting audience. Most of our upgrade recommendations are small, but they can make a world of difference in a senior’s daily life. Whether you’re making a few simple tweaks or planning a larger renovation project, investing in a safer, more accessible home is always a smart move for both your tenants and your property value.
