As the owner of single-family rental homes, it’s likely that one or more of your tenants will eventually ask to have a trampoline in the yard. You will also need to make the crucial decision of whether or not to allow trampolines on your rental property.
There are numerous reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which could persuade you to grant their request. Nevertheless, there are also solid reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Prior to deciding, you should weigh the risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline.
Trampolines Are a Common Backyard Feature
Trampolines are prevalent in single-family homes. They give a fun exercise that improves coordination and muscle growth. They help develop skills for sports like gymnastics and diving, offering hours of enjoyment for active kids. Manufacturers have strengthened protection with nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
Nevertheless, data indicates that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. Trampolines are prohibited by the majority of landlords and property owners, and with good reason.
Why Trampolines Can Become a Liability for Landlords
In the U.S., trampolines lead to approximately 100,000 injuries each year. Most of these injuries involve broken legs and arms, but they can be much more serious. Frequent injuries involved broken ribs, sternum, spine, and head, some of which may bring about permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines may potentially pose a risk. They may soon become unsightly if they aren’t properly maintained or if they begin to rust. Placing a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult because you have to move it every time the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, there’s a high possibility that it will kill off the grass beneath. On occasion, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, leaving it to worsen in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your concern once they move out.
With so many problems, it’s understandable why trampolines are frequently thought of as such a significant liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that gives the whole accountability to the tenant should they decide to purchase a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
However, you should consider whether your tenant might believe that having a trampoline (or not) is a deal-breaker. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is critical to your long-term achievement, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a valid reason. Therefore, it is important to decide early on whether to allow trampolines on your property and to make sure your tenant is aware of this in the lease documents to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment.
If you require assistance managing tenants or writing lease contracts for items like trampolines, hire a trusted Argyle property manager like Real Property Management Lakeview, may help you and your tenants live more comfortably. Contact us online or at 940-323-0505 right now.
Originally Published on July 3, 2020
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