Holiday Décor Tips for Multifamily Property Managers and Landlords: Q&A With FirstService Residential’s Ashlee Friedmann

With Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa not far behind, many residential tenants’ aspirations turn to holiday decorations. If those households are apartment renters, landlords and property owners could find themselves faced with unusual decoration choices, some of which could be hazardous.

Connect CRE recently questioned Ashlee Friedmann, FirstService Residential’s Managing Director, Multifamily Rental Division, to determine what landlords and property managers should consider regarding tenant holiday décor.

Connect CRE: Why should landlords or property managers have decoration rules? Would the tenants think this is unfair?

Ashlee Friedmann: Not at all. Many of the buildings I manage are in the 10—to 20-story range, and owners prioritize safety by not allowing decorations or lights to hang outside windows. In buildings where residents can place holiday lights on balconies, we encourage them to secure those lights—this avoids hazards in windy conditions and helps ensure a safe and joyous holiday environment for everyone.

Aesthetics, or the look of these decorations, is also important. Many of our buildings’ managers encourage a uniform, elegant look in the hallways, which is why we prefer not to have decorations on the outside of doors. Additionally, it ensures that common areas are safe and clutter-free.

Connect CRE: Getting back to hazards, what are some things that landlords and managers need to know?

Ashlee Friedmann: Well, in New York City, the fire department can conduct surprise inspections. So, we educate and instruct our building staff to keep an eye out for decorations that impede access to stairwells, emergency exits and hallways, which are critical points of egress in an emergency. These must be removed right away to avoid a building violation.

Then there are Christmas trees. Defective lighting, cords and plugs cause almost half of all Christmas tree fires in NYC. This includes natural and artificial trees. While landlords and property managers can’t force tenants to buy a certain type of tree, they can encourage tenants to purchase artificial trees labeled as flame retardant. They can also suggest that if a tenant wants to purchase a real tree, buy the freshest-looking one and remove it from the apartment before it becomes dry and brittle.

Connect CRE: How can property owners, managers and tenants work together to ensure everyone is happy with holiday décor?

Ashlee Freidmann: It’s important to find a balance between the owner’s vision for the property and the sense of community among the residents. Some residents have different views on how the building should be decorated. It’s management’s responsibility to ensure everyone is pleased with the look of their homes while keeping safety at the top of their minds.