If you own Stockbridge single-family rental properties, you may be unsure whether to allow tenants to have a grill. You may not want to permit grills on the property for a bunch of reasons, including the fact that they pose a significant risk of fire damage and injury and leave greasy messes. However, these dangers should be weighed against the tenant’s opportunity to enjoy living in the rental property. A tenant who disregards your requests out of frustration and brings a grill onto the property anyway can be a problem if you forbid grills. It’s important to assess the pros and cons of allowing grills for your tenants before making a decision.
Barbeque grills and smokers are very popular in American culture. One is owned by up to seven out of ten adults in the United States. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, grills start 10,600 home fires on average each year. Additionally, grill-related injuries send almost 20,000 people to the emergency room each year. The majority of these fires and injuries are brought on by gas or propane grills, the most common kind of grill available. Clearly, there are compelling reasons to forbid grills on your property just based on the risk of injury or fire.
The potential mess they can create is another disadvantage of allowing grills. All grills can leave greasy messes on a deck or patio, and charcoal grills produce ashes. If your tenant does not know how to thoroughly dispose of ashes or clean their grill with the appropriate cleaners, they may cause property damage. Grease is difficult to remove from many surfaces, and ashes exposed to the elements can coat the exterior surfaces of the house. Each mess is difficult to clean up. In addition, the heat from a grill can cause other types of damage, such as melting vinyl siding or scorching wooden decks or railings. Because it can be difficult to determine whether a tenant will use and clean up after their grill responsibly, you may conclude that prohibiting grills is the best course of action.
The provision of a grill to your tenants does, however, come with some benefits. Allowing grills will likely make your tenant happy and promote positive tenant relations, which is probably the most significant benefit. Given the widespread popularity of grills, allowing your tenant to have one may encourage them to stay in your rental home longer, since tenants want to feel at home in their rental, and allowing them to have one may help.
When Stockbridge property managers permit their tenants to have a grill, it may also prevent lease violations. Even if you tell your tenant they cannot have a grill, there is a high likelihood that they will bring one onto the property and then try to hide it. Rather, you might think about permitting a grill while putting some safety measures in place. Electric grills, for instance, are saferthan other grill types and are less likely to start structural fires. This is due to the lack of open flames in electric grills. Even though it might not be their first choice, allowing your tenant to use an electric grill could help you keep a positive relationship with them while avoiding the more serious risks that come with using a gas or charcoal grill. You could also consider educating them on grill maintenance and cleanup procedures. You may find that a compromise regarding grills is ultimately beneficial for you and your tenant, especially if it increases the likelihood that they will adhere to the terms of their lease.
The decision to permit tenants to have a grill ultimately comes down to your rental property, personal preferences, and circumstances. 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 Stockbridge rental property and good tenant relations at the same time? Contact us online today or call us directly at 770-506-1237!
Originally published: March 12, 2021
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