As the owner of single-family rental homes, it is likely that, someday, at least one of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Authorizing trampolines on your rental property is another vital decision to make.
There are a lot of reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which may lead you to respond yes. Yet, there are also valid reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Prior to making a choice, it’s critical to recognize the risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline.
Trampolines Are a Common Backyard Feature
Trampolines are common 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, while also providing hours of pleasure for hyper children. Manufacturers have enhanced safety by including nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
However, numbers demonstrate that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. The majority of landlords and property owners prohibit trampolines, citing a reasonable excuse.
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 common injuries include splintered ribs, sternum, spine, and head, some of which can lead to permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can potentially be unsafe. If they aren’t properly maintained and start to rust, they can soon become a source of annoyance. Placing a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult since it should be moved whenever the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, the grass underneath it will most likely die. On occasion, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, leaving it to rot in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your accountability once they move out.
With several disadvantages, it’s no surprise that trampolines are often viewed as such a significant liability. Even though you have a lease addendum that gives the entire tenant accountability if they decide to acquire a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
Nonetheless, it’s important to consider whether your tenant might feel that having a trampoline (or not) is a hindrance. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is essential to your long-term prosperity, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a solid reason. As a result, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, whether or not to permit trampolines on your property should be taken early and properly communicated to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you want aid in managing tenants or creating lease contracts for items such as trampolines, hire a trusted Royal Oak property manager such as Real Property Management Advantage, and we will make it simpler for you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 248-554-1010 right away.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
