As the owner of single-family rental homes, it is likely that, in the future, one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Permitting trampolines on your rental property is another crucial decision to make.
There are several reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which may lead you to answer yes. However, there are also great reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Before making a choice, it’s critical to comprehend the risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline.
Trampolines Are a Common Backyard Feature
Trampolines are widely used in single-family homes. They provide a fun exercise that improves coordination and muscle growth. They help develop skills for sports like gymnastics and diving, while also offering hours of pleasure for active children. Manufacturers have improved safety by adding nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
Yet, data demonstrate that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. The majority of landlords and property owners do not allow trampolines, and for a valid reason.
Why Trampolines Can Become a Liability for Landlords
In the U.S., trampolines lead to approximately 100,000 injuries each year. Numerous of these injuries involve broken legs and arms, but they can be much more serious. Most frequent injuries include cracked ribs, sternum, spine, and head, some of which may lead to permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can potentially be dangerous. If they aren’t properly maintained and begin to rust, they can soon become a source of irritation. Possessing a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult since it should be relocated each time the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, the grass beneath it will most likely die. At times, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, allowing it to rot in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your concern once they move out.
With numerous disadvantages, it’s no surprise that trampolines are frequently regarded as such a significant liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that transfers the entire liability to the renter if they decide to purchase a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
However, it’s critical to consider whether your tenant might feel that having a trampoline (or not) is an issue of concern. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is vital to your long-term prosperity, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a good reason. For that reason, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, whether or not to permit trampolines on your property should be taken promptly and properly conveyed to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you need assistance managing tenants or preparing lease agreements for items such as trampolines, hire a trusted Indian Harbour Beach property manager such as Real Property Management Brevard, we will make life simpler for you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 321-610-8022 today.
Originally Published on July 3, 2020
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