As the owner of single-family rental homes, there’s a good probability that one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Letting trampolines on your rental property is another crucial decision you must make.
There are several reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, and you may be tempted to say yes. However, there are excellent reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Before making a decision, you need to consider 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 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 enjoyment for energetic children. Manufacturers have boosted safety with nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
Nevertheless, data reveal that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. Numerous landlords and property owners forbid trampolines, and with good cause.
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. Usual accidents involve broken ribs, sternum, spine, and head, some of which may cause permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can also be hazardous. If they aren’t properly maintained or begin to tarnish, they will rapidly become an eyesore. Putting a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult since the trampoline must be moved every time the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, the grass beneath it is likely to die. Occasionally, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, allowing it to decay in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your problem once they move out.
With so many drawbacks, it’s not surprising that trampolines are frequently seen as such a significant liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that allocates complete duty to the renter if they decide to purchase a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
Still, it’s important to consider whether your tenant thinks that having a trampoline (or not) is a deal-breaker. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is imperative to your lasting success, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a good reason. As a result, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, the decision to allow trampolines on your property should be made first and communicated correctly to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you need support managing tenants or developing lease agreements for things such as trampolines, hire a trusted Newburgh property manager like Real Property Management Results, we make life less difficult for you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 812-461-1676 immediately.
Originally Published on July 3, 2020
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.
