Tenant-Requested Hot Tubs: Landlord’s Decision-Making Guide

As a landlord, you may face a complication when your tenants ask to install a hot tub on your rental property. While, indeed, it can cause high tenant satisfaction and cost savings, however, hot tub installation has possible risks. If the hot tub malfunctions or produces damage to the property, you may be left with costly repairs and legal disputes. Having said that, poor tenant maintenance can elicit hygiene concerns or safety hazards.

Thus, before ever deciding, it’s salient to study all the most probable risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to install a hot tub. Take into account consulting with legal or insurance professionals to determine if you are protected enough in case of any issues.

For property owners, deciding if tenants can have a hot tub depends on particular factors. There are really good reasons for allowing or not allowing it. Here are a handful of considerations for each option:

Reasons to Allow Tenants to Have a Hot Tub:

1. Attracting and Retaining Tenants: Providing amenities, for instance, a sauna bath can make your property more appealing to potential tenants, giving you the chance to charge higher rent and retain tenants for long durations.
2. Increased Property Value: Installing a hot tub can enhance the overall value of your property, which can be perfect if you plan to sell in the future.
3. Competitive Advantage: In innumerable rental markets, affixing a hot tub can give your property a competitive edge over others, helping it become more appealing and get rented more quickly.
4. Tenant Satisfaction: Tenants who are fond of the luxury of a hot tub may be more contented with their living arrangements, which could bring on fewer complaints and excellent relationships.

Reasons Not to Allow Tenants to Have a Hot Tub:

1. Maintenance and Costs: Hot tubs need regular maintenance, such as cleaning, water treatment, and impending repairs. You may need to pay for these costs or pass them on to your tenants, which could turn off numerous renters.
2. Liability and Safety Concerns: Hot tubs can definitely pose safety risks. There is a risk of accidents, injuries, or even lawsuits if someone gets hurt. You may need to buy additional insurance coverage to make yourself well-protected.
3. Potential Property Damage: There’s a risk that the sauna bath could damage the property, by way of example the deck or plumbing, which may cause costly repairs.
4. Local Regulations: A number of local municipalities and homeowners’ associations may have regulations or restrictions on putting together and using hot tubs. It’s basic to check and keep up with any such rules.
5. Increased Utility Costs: Hot tubs consume electricity and water, which could instigate higher utility bills. Choose whether you or the tenant will cover these costs.

Assume you are definitely thinking of allowing your tenants to put up a hot tub on your property. Thus, there are several primal considerations to keep in mind such as ownership, the lease agreement terms, the removal and restoration process, cost responsibilities, and the approval process.

Setting up clear, uncomplicated guidelines and rules in the lease agreement is particularly recommended if you make up your mind to permit hot tub installation. This can comprise critical issues such as maintenance and repair, responsibilities, and usage restrictions, which are integral to ensure the safety of your tenants and protect your property.

 

If you’re managing rental properties in Winooski and need more helpful advice on how to write your lease agreement, the property managers at RPM Sterling can certainly help. Contact us online or call us at 802-861-6468 today.