If you own Alexander single-family rental properties, you might be pondering whether to allow tenants to have grills. 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. The tenant’s ability to enjoy living in your rental property should be taken into consideration when weighing these risks. 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. 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. Seven out of ten adults in the United States own one. But the National Fire Protection Association reports that grills cause an average of 10,600 residential fires per year. Additionally, nearly 20,000 people visit the emergency room annually due to grill-related injuries. The vast majority of these fires and injuries are caused by gas or propane grills, the most common type of grill available. Evidently, the risk of injury or fire alone is sufficient to prohibit grills from your property.
The potential mess that grills may leave behind is another drawback to allowing them. All grills can leave greasy messes on a deck or patio, and charcoal grills produce ashes. 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. 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. Cleaning up both messes is challenging. Moreover, the high temperature from a grill can melt vinyl siding, leavescorch marks on wooden decks and railings, and cause other damage. You might think it’s best to tell your tenant they can’t have a grill on the property because it can be difficult to predict whether they’ll use it responsibly and take care of it well.
Although, there are some advantages to allowing your tenants to have a grill. Probably the most significant advantage is that allowing grills will increase tenant satisfaction and foster positive tenant relations. 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.
Allowing grills to be used by tenants is something Alexander property managers may do to avoid lease violations. It’s upsetting, but even if you tell your tenant they can’t have a grill, there’s a good chance they’ll bring one onto the property and then try to conceal it. Rather, you may want to consider allowing a grill with some sensible 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. 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 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.
In the end, the decision to permit tenants to have a grill depends on your rental property, personal preferences, and circumstances. However, 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 Alexander rental property and good tenant relations at the same time? Contact us online today or call us directly at 501-701-4702 or 501-303-6870!
Originally published: March 12, 2021
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