As the owner of single-family rental homes in Richland, the chances are high that at some time, one or more of your tenants will ask to have a trampoline in the yard. Allowing trampolines on your rental property is yet another decision that you will need to make, and it is a vital factor. There are many reasons why a tenant would want a trampoline, which may tempt you to agree. But there are also good reasons not to allow trampolines on your rental property. Before making a decision, it’s significant to understand both the risks and benefits are of allowing your tenants to have a trampoline.
Trampolines are a popular choice for those living in single-family dwellings. There are numerous positive benefits to jumping on a trampoline: it supplies both fun and healthy exercise, improves coordination, and encourages muscle growth. Many individuals use trampolines to help develop skills used in other sports, such as gymnastics, diving, and even ballet. A trampoline can bring hours of entertainment and keep energetic youngsters occupied. Trampoline manufacturers have aimed to make trampolines safer, with safety nets and in-ground options intended to reduce certain types of falls and injuries.
On the other hand, statistics show that even with safety precautions, all of these benefits come with serious risks. Most landlords and property owners prohibit trampolines, and for a valid reason. In the U.S., trampolines cause about 100,000 injuries every year. In reality, during 2002 and 2011, more than 1 million people wound up in the emergency room with trampoline-related injuries. Several of these injuries were things like broken legs and arms, which may be far more severe. Fractured ribs, sternum, spine, and head are all common injuries caused by trampolines, some of which even result in permanent neurological damage.
Trampolines can also become a hazard in other ways. When the trampoline isn’t properly maintained or starts to rust, it could quickly become a real eyesore. Having a trampoline in a grassy yard makes yard maintenance significantly more difficult since the trampoline must be moved each time the lawn is mowed. If the trampoline stays in one place too long, there’s a good chance that it will kill off the grass underneath. Sometimes tenants don’t have the means to move or get rid of an old or wrecked trampoline, and so they leave it to deteriorate in the yard. That heap of junk then becomes your problem once they move out.
With these many downsides, it is not surprising that trampolines are often viewed as such a big liability. Even if you have a lease addendum that assigns full responsibility to the tenant should they choose to get a trampoline, that is no guarantee against future litigation.
However, it’s important to consider at least whether your tenant might feel that having a trampoline (or not) is a deal-breaker. Their long-term satisfaction with the rental property is important to your long-term success, therefore denying any request should be done carefully and with a good reason. That is why to avoid future hurt feelings and disappointment, the decision of whether or not to allow trampolines on your Richland property is the one that should be made early and communicated clearly to your tenant in the lease documents.
If you need help managing tenants or creating lease agreements for things like trampolines, hire a trusted Richland property manager like Real Property Management Tri-Cities. We make life easier for you and your tenants. Contact us online or at 509-572-5440 today.
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