Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security, and Condition
Assessing travel nurse housing safety, security, and condition on arrival is crucial. Regardless if you’ve allowed the agency to arrange your travel nurse housing or if you’ve arranged it yourself. Hopefully, you’ve researched your housing thoroughly ahead of time so you avoid any significant problems when you get there!
While we have broken down these short-term housing safety tips into multiple steps, many of them can be done quickly as you move in on your first day. The most important thing is to be aware and make note of any issues that need to be fixed immediately.
Assess the safety and security of the apartment location, complex and surrounding area.
Drive around the surrounding area first, then circle in towards the apartment. Assess the general location. Is the area clean? Landscaped? What type of vehicles are parked around? Do all of the security gates (if the complex has them) work? Are there security lights in the parking areas?
Talk with your neighbors.
A great way to feel safer in your new area is to get familiar with the people around you. Try to make small talk and say hello if you can, and if you notice anything disconcerting, ask neighbors about it! Most people will be upfront if there are any huge safety concerns at your new short-term housing.
Learn the area.
If amenities are included in the apartment complex, walk around and check them out. Part of feeling a sense of safety in short-term housing locations is simply feeling comfortable and confident. If there are front desk staff, it’s always nice to introduce yourself and get familiar with the faces you will see around the place.
Another good idea regarding travel nurse housing safety is to look up your address on crime statistic websites. This step is most helpful before you move in, but if it gets missed, knowing what crimes are more likely in the area can empower you to keep yourself as safe as possible!
The importance of researching the safety of your short-term housing
On occasion, it may seem that you are put between a rock and a hard place when it comes to choosing travel nurse housing. Some areas of the country are notoriously difficult to find short-term housing. In order to make sure that you have a safe place to live, it is imperative that you research your housing ahead of time! Do not simply book a spot and move in. No questions asked. Instead, make sure you do your diligence so you aren’t scrambling to find a new place days before your assignment starts. Safety should win out over cost every single time!
Moving In
After you take the time to do a once-over of the area and unit, it’s time to move in! If you book through a short-term housing site, one safety perk might be that you don’t have to meet with a stranger to gain access to the unit. If you rent directly from an apartment complex or leasing company, you may need to arrive during business hours to sign paperwork and get your keys. Be sure to make note of this during your road trip planning so you don’t arrive at a time when someone isn’t available.
During your first walk-through of your new place, write down anything damaged, broken, or in poor condition. If you can electronically contact your landlord, send a note with any safety concerns in your short-term housing unit. Otherwise, be sure to make a physical list and keep a copy for yourself and your landlord.
Here are a few reminders of things to check
- Open all blinds and turn on all lights so you can see well.
- Condition of walls, carpet, and tiles.
- Door locks and windows functionality.
- The toilet flushes well with no leaks around the base.
- Cabinets in good condition. Don’t forget to check under the sinks for water damage or bugs.
- The closet/room doors are in good working condition.
- Fire Extinguishers and locations (current tag).
- The thermostat for AC/Heat/Fan is working.
- Refrigerator condition, temperature, smell.
- Laundry room condition, number of washers/dryers, cost, distance from the apartment.
- Do all of the provided appliances work?
A few items that you should also ask once you have decided to move in:
- Location of mailboxes (does your key work)?
- Location of trash.
- Pet Policies (if applicable)
- Ask about maintenance after-hours contact information.
- Location of Parking, visitor parking (covered or not, important in areas such as AZ).
- Hours of use for any community areas, laundry, pool, etc.
IMPORTANT:
Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security and Condition isn’t up to par: What to do?
Use your instincts and do not take residency in housing that obviously unacceptable other than problems that could be easily fixed. If there are issues that they are willing to fix, make an agreement for a time and date items will be fixed.
If you are taking company housing and there are any immediate red flags–do not take residency if you can wait. Reach out to your recruiter as quickly as possible and try to work out a solution. You always have the right to refuse the apartment prior to move-in. If you choose to refuse the apartment, you should notify the leasing agent and your recruiter as soon as possible. Most companies will assist you in finding an acceptable apartment but realize they also have money tied up in that short-term housing, so unless there are huge safety concerns, they will likely try to make the first option work.
