As the owner of single-family rental homes, it is quite likely that, at some juncture, one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Permitting trampolines on your rental property is a significant decision that warrants careful consideration.
There are numerous reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which could encourage you to agree to their request. However, there are also great reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Prior to arriving at a decision, it is essential to understand 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 offer a fun exercise that improves coordination and muscle growth. They help develop skills for sports like gymnastics and diving, offering countless hours of enjoyment for active children. Manufacturers have taken significant steps to improve safety by incorporating nets and in-ground options to reduce falls and injuries.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that these benefits come with serious risks, even with safety precautions. Most landlords and property owners forbid trampolines, and for valid reasons.
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 injuries involved fractured ribs, sternum, spine, and head, with the potential for some to lead to permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can also present certain risks. If they aren’t properly maintained or start to rust, they could quickly become an eyesore. Having a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance much more difficult as it necessitates moving the trampoline whenever the lawn is mowed.
If the trampoline stays in one place too long, it is quite likely that the grass beneath may suffer as a result. Sometimes, tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or broken trampoline, leaving it to deteriorate in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your problem once they move out.
Given the various concerns associated with them, it is reasonable that trampolines are typically regarded as a significant liability. Even though you have a lease addendum that gives all liability to the tenant in the event they decide to acquire a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
Setting Expectations Early to Avoid Future Disputes
It remains vital to consider whether your tenant might feel that having a trampoline (or not) is a deal-breaker. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is important to your long-term victory, so denying any request should be done carefully and for a valid reason. That is why, to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, it is advisable to make a decision regarding the allowance of trampolines on your property early on and to communicate this clearly to your tenant within the lease documents.
Should you require assistance managing tenants or creating lease agreements for items like trampolines, hire a trusted Weatherford property manager like Real Property Management Trailhead. We strive to facilitate a smoother experience for both you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 817-930-1160 today.
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.
