Home & Garden Columns

Alert To Renters & Landlords 

I’ve done earthquake consults for folks who are renting their homes/apartments, and had them tell me they knew the house’s retrofit was not adequate, but what could they do: they don’t own the place.  

Don’t landlords want to protect their investment? Like so many others, most landlords are living with a false sense of security: “I’ve seen some bolts, so it looks okay.”  

Talk to your landlord about having the retrofit evaluated: about 80 percent of them are wrong or incomplete. And what about an automatic gas shut-off valve? It’s the cheapest insurance around, giving protection and peace of mind both to you and your landlord.  

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.