You might be contemplating whether or not to permit your tenants to use a grill if you own Burlingame single-family rental homes. You may not want to allow grills on your property for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they pose a significant risk of fire damage and injury and leave greasy messes. However, these risks should be weighed against the tenant’s ability to enjoy living in the rental property. There could be a lot of frustration if you forbid grills and your tenant dismisses your requests and brings a grill onto the property anyway. Before deciding whether to allow your tenants to have a grill, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons.
American culture is very centered around the use of barbecue grills and smokers. In the United States, up to seven out of ten adults own one. Unfortunately, according to the National Fire Protection Association, grills cause an average of 10,600 home fires per year. In addition, approximately 20,000 individuals visit the emergency room each year due to grill-related injuries. Gas or propane grills, the most common type of grill on the market, are to blame for the majority of these fires and injuries. Obviously, the risk of injury or fire is sufficient justification for prohibiting grills on your property.
The potential for grills to create a mess is another disadvantage of allowing them. Ash is produced by charcoal grills, and all grills can leave greasy messes on a patio or deck. If your tenant does not know how to responsibly dispose of ashes and clean their grill with the proper cleaners, they might cause property damage. Surfaces with grease are difficult to remove, and ashes left outside in the wind may blow around and coat the house’s exterior surfaces. Both of the messes are hard to clean up. The heat from a grill can also cause damage, such as melting vinyl siding or scorching wooden decks or railings. Because it can be difficult to discern whether a tenant will use and clean up after their grill responsibly, you may determine that it is best to prohibit them from having one on the property.
Although, there are some advantages to allowing your tenants to have a grill. Probably the most significant advantage is that allowing grills will make your tenants happy and improve tenant relations. Given the widespread popularity of grills, allowing your tenant to have one may encourage them to stay in your rental property longer, because tenants want to feel at home in their rental.
Allowing grills to be used by tenants is something Burlingame property managers may do to avoid lease violations. Sadly, there’s a good chance that even if you tell your tenant they can’t have a grill, they’ll still bring one onto the property and then try to hide it. Alternatively, you may want to consider allowing a grill with some common sense precautions. Compared to other grill types, electric grills are safer and less likely to cause structural fires. This is due to the fact that electric grills have no open flames. Even if it isn’t your tenant’s first choice, allowing them to use an electric grill could help you to keep good relations with them while bypassing the more serious risks associated with gas or charcoal grills. You may also want to include information on the correct maintenance and cleaning of their grill. In the long run, you may find that a compromise regarding grills benefits both you and your tenant, especially if it increases the chances that they will comply with the lease terms.
Ultimately, allowing tenants to have a grill depends on your rental property, priorities, and situations. Regardless of your decision, it’s critical to build a strong bond with your tenant, include precise language in your lease, and respond to requests from your tenant in a timely and professional manner.
Would you like to know more about maintaining a successful Burlingame rental property and good tenant relations at the same time? Contact us online today or call us directly at 650-696-1800!
Originally published: March 12, 2021
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