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Should You Let Your Tenants Have Grills?

Father and Son Grilling in Yard of Tampa Rental PropertyIf you own Tampa single-family rental properties, you may be unsure whether to allow tenants to have a grill. Grills present a significant risk of fire damage and injury and can produce tricky grease messes, so you may not want to allow them on the property. However, these risks should be weighed against the tenant’s ability to enjoy living in the rental property. Tenants who disregard your wishes and bring a grill onto the property despite your ban on them are just two of the potential issues that can arise when grills are prohibited. Before deciding whether to allow your tenants to have a grill, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons.

American culture heavily favors the use of barbecue grills and smokers. In the United States, up to seven out of ten adults own one. Grills, however, are cited as the cause of 10,600 home fires on average each year by the National Fire Protection Association. Additionally, nearly 20,000 people visit the emergency room annually due to grill-related injuries. A large number of these fires and injuries are caused by gas or propane grills, which are the most popular grills on the market. Clearly, it makes sense to forbid grills on your property if there is even a remote possibility of injury or fire.

A further drawback of allowing grills is the potential mess that they might create. All grills can leave greasy messes on a deck or patio, and charcoal grills produce ashes. Your tenant may harm the property if they do not know how to remove ashes properly or clean their grill with the proper cleaners. It is difficult to remove grease from many surfaces, and ashes left outside in the elements can be blown around and coat the exterior surfaces of the house. It’s challenging to clean up either mess. Moreover, the high temperature from a grill can melt vinyl siding, leave scorch marks on wooden decks and railings, and cause other damage. The best course of action may seem to be to inform your tenant that they are not permitted to have a grill on the property because it can be difficult to predict whether they will use it responsibly and clean up after themselves.

Nevertheless, there are benefits 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. Tenants want to enjoy living in their rental, and given the widespread popularity of grills, allowing them to have one may encourage them to remain in your rental property for a longer period of time.

It may also help to prevent lease violations when Tampa property managers permit their tenants to have a grill. 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. Instead, you might think about letting your tenant have a grill as long as you take a few sensible safety measures. Electric grills, for instance, are safer and less likely to cause structure fires than other grill types. 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 consider including instructions for the grill’s maintenance and cleaning. 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 is essential to establish good communication with your tenant, include clear language in the lease, and respond to your tenant’s requests promptly and professionally.

Would you like to know more about maintaining a successful Tampa rental property and good tenant relations at the same time? Contact us online today or call us directly at 813-867-7300!

 

Originally published: March 12, 2021

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