You might be considering allowing your tenants to have a grill if you own Rio Rancho single-family rental properties. 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. Tenants who reject your wishes and bring a grill onto the property despite your ban on them are among the issues that may arise as a result of prohibiting grills. It’s important to assess the pros and cons of allowing grills for your tenants before making a decision.
American culture is very centered around the use of barbecue grills and smokers. About seven out of ten own one in the U.S. But according to the National Fire Protection Association, grills cause 10,600 home fires annually on average. Moreover, grill-related injuries send nearly 20,000 patients to the emergency room each year. The most common type of grill on the market, gas or propane grills are to blame for the majority of these fires and injuries. It is obvious that allowing grills on your property is not such a good idea due to the potential for injury or fire.
The potential mess that grills may leave behind is another drawback to allowing them. Charcoal grills create ashes, and all grills can leave greasy messes on a deck or patio. If your tenant doesn’t know how to clean their grill properly with the right cleaners or dispose of their ashes properly, they risk damaging the property. 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 melt vinyl siding, scorch wooden decks or railings, and cause additional damage. You might believe that telling your tenant they can’t have a grill on the property is the best course of action because it can be difficult to predict whether they will use it responsibly and clean up after themselves.
Enabling your tenants to have a grill has some benefits, though. The main advantage of allowing grills is that it will increase tenant satisfaction and foster positive tenant relations. Because they’re so popular, giving your tenant permission to have a grill may encourage them to stay in your rental home longer since they will feel at home in their accommodations.
Allowing grills to be used by tenants is something Rio Rancho property managers may do to avoid 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 may want to consider allowing a grill with some sensible precautions. Electric grills, for instance, are safer and less likely to start structural fires than other grill types. The reason behind this is the absence of open flames in electric grills. Although it may not be your tenant’s first choice, allowing them to have an electric grill may help you maintain good relations with them while avoiding the greater dangers posed by gas and charcoal grills. You could also consider educating them on grill maintenance and cleanup procedures. In the end, you might discover that reaching a reasonable agreement on grills is better for you and your tenant in the long run, particularly if it means they’ll be more likely to abide by the terms of their lease.
Whether you should allow your tenants to have a grill ultimately depends on your rental property, your preferences, and the circumstances. What’s crucial, however, is that you build a strong relationship with your tenant, include direct language in your lease, and respond to their requests in a timely and professional manner, regardless of the course you ultimately take.
Would you like to know more about maintaining a successful Rio Rancho rental property and good tenant relations at the same time? Contact us online today or call us directly at 505-796-8047!
Originally published: March 12, 2021
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