As the owner of single-family rental homes, there’s a high probability that, someday, one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Letting trampolines on your rental property is another important decision you need to make.
There are multiple reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, and you may be tempted to answer yes. Yet, there are good reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Before making a choice, you need to think about the risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline.
Trampolines Are a Common Backyard Feature
Trampolines are popular 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 enjoyment for active children. Manufacturers have upgraded safety with nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
However, numbers reveal that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. The majority of landlords and property owners prohibit trampolines, 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. Common accidents involve fractured ribs, sternum, spine, and head, some of which may cause permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can also be unsafe. If they aren’t properly maintained or begin to tarnish, they will quickly become an ugly thing. Putting a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult, as the trampoline must be relocated every time the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, the grass beneath it is likely to perish. Sometimes, 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 liability once they move out.
With so many negative aspects, it’s not surprising that trampolines are normally seen as such a significant liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that transfers complete duty to the renter if they agree to purchase a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
Still, it’s imperative to consider whether your tenant thinks that having a trampoline (or not) is a hindrance. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is key to your long-term success, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a reasonable cause. As a result, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, the decision to permit trampolines on your property should be made first and communicated clearly to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you need assistance managing tenants or generating lease contracts for things such as trampolines, hire a trusted Byron property manager like Real Property Management Vesta, we make life less complicated for you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 478-257-7055 immediately.
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.
