As the owner of single-family rental homes, the odds are high that, at some point, one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Another significant decision you’ll have to make is whether or not to allow trampolines on your rental property.
There are multiple reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which may entice you to respond yes. There are, nevertheless, valid reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. You should weigh the risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline before making a final choice.
Trampolines Are a Common Backyard Feature
Trampolines are popular in single-family homes. They offer a fun exercise that improves coordination and muscle growth. They help develop skills for sports like gymnastics and diving, providing hours of entertainment for energetic kids. Manufacturers have heightened security by putting nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
Statistical analysis, however, reveals that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. There is a valid reason why the majority of landlords and property owners forbid trampolines.
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. Ribs, sternum, spine, and head fractures are common, some of which can result in permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can also become hazardous. If they aren’t properly maintained, they have the potential to rust and become an eyesore in no time. Having a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult, as the trampoline needs to be moved each time the lawn is mowed.
The trampoline may damage or even destroy the grass beneath it if it stays in one place too long. Occasionally, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, so it sits in the yard and decays. Once they move out, you’ll have to deal with that heap of junk.
The numerous drawbacks of trampolines make it easy to see why they are considered a significant liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that assigns full accountability to the tenant should they choose to get a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
However, you must consider whether your tenant might feel that having a trampoline (or not) is an obstacle. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is important to your long-lasting success, so denying any request should be done carefully and for on reasonable grounds. As a result, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, whether or not to permit trampolines on your property should be made early and conveyed clearly to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you need help managing tenants or creating lease agreements for things like trampolines, hire a trusted Tualatin property manager like Real Property Management Assurance, which may alleviate a lot of stress for both you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 971-270-2600 today.
Originally Published on July 3, 2020
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