Is the Future of Property Management All About Disaster Resilience?
- Evelyn Long
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Disaster readiness is a top priority among condo property managers in South Florida. While most acknowledge the importance of well-thought-out reactive measures to respond to every emergency, only some value disaster resilience. Climate change is causing property management companies to rethink how they oversee rental properties moving forward.
How Climate Change Affects Condominiums
Coastal towns bear the brunt of menacing weather events. However, climate change adversely affects South Floridian cities differently than other disaster-prone areas. Here are the unique threats it poses to condos in the region:
Rising sea levels: The sea level in the Sunshine State has increased by 7 inches since 1970 and may rise further by 9 inches from 2020 to 2050. Climate change is mainly behind this, as the additional water stems from melting land-based ice. Higher sea levels can inundate low-lying coastal land, exacerbate storm surges and increase the likelihood of flash floods.
Intensifying storms: Warmer ocean temperatures breed more intense hurricanes and send more moisture into the atmosphere, which can result in more powerful rain bombs. Destructive wind speeds and heavy downpours expose condo owners and tenants to greater water damage risk.
Unexpected wildfires: Climate change may be behind the unusually low precipitation recorded in South Florida. By April 2025, Miami and Fort Lauderdale had received 3 to 5 inches less rainfall, worsening drought conditions. The combination of extreme heat and dry vegetation sets the stage for devastating wildfires that may surprise residents and authorities.
Alarming limestone erosion: The porous rock on which South Florida is built is decaying, causing some structures to sink. Many factors are at play, but higher sea levels, stronger tidal currents and heavier rainfalls could also contribute to limestone erosion.
4 Benefits of Prioritizing Disaster Resilience in Condo Property Management
Climate change is bad news for Miami rental properties, so disaster resilience must be high on property managers’ agendas.
Reducing the Risk of Emergency Damage
Weather resistance is one of the hallmarks of disaster resilience. Discovering and addressing structural issues early on makes rentals less susceptible to emergency damage during a hurricane. Proactive maintenance helps keep the valuables inside rental properties dry and occupants safe, improving tenant satisfaction and retention.
Enabling Swift Post-Disaster Recovery
No dwelling is immune to calamities, but climate-resilient homes bounce back from destruction more quickly. Keeping receipts of hurricane-proofing upgrades and documenting the damage by taking close-up and wide shots of broken items speeds up the insurance claims process. The faster the insurance payout is released, the sooner reconstruction can commence.
Neutralizing Utility Service Disruptions
Catastrophic weather events can negatively impact infrastructure. Property managers who consider disaster resilience pursue energy and water self-sufficiency to protect tenants from power outages, natural gas supply interruptions and water shortages. For example, they can integrate a graywater system into the building’s plumbing to conserve scarce freshwater by recycling lightly used wastewater for urban garden irrigation, toilet flushing and laundry washing.
Mitigating Insurance Premium Hikes
Floridians are no strangers to soaring home insurance premiums. However, prices are getting out of control. The state’s average premium rose 29% from 2021 to 2024, partly due to climate risk. Although you can’t directly influence homeowners' insurance price negotiations, you can help your clients secure lower premiums by doing your share to make rentals less vulnerable to weather damage.
Make Disaster Resilience a Top Priority in Property Management
Pursuing measures to make rental properties more climate-resilient should delight tenants, shield your clients from financial losses and meet your new responsibilities. Climate change is inconvenient, but it’s here to stay. Recalibrate your business to mitigate its impact for everyone’s benefit.
Evelyn Long is a writer that specializes in housing market trends. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated Magazine, where she writes essential resources for renters and homeowners. She has contributed to several other publications like the National Association of Realtors and Realty Executives.
