A common holiday tradition is hanging Christmas lights. But if your renters ask you to allow them to put up Christmas lights on your Hampton rental house by themselves, should you agree? This is a question you must think about before saying yes. There are many things that could go wrong, that’s why there are very good reasons for discouraging your tenants from hanging their own Christmas lights on the roof or on trees. But you don’t have to worry. Your tenants won’t have to forgo this tradition entirely. There are many ways to help your tenants decorate their homes while keeping safety in mind.
One of the biggest reasons for not letting your tenants put up Christmas lights by themselves is the risk of injury. From 2007 to 2013, more than 173,000 people in the U.S. were injured by hanging Christmas decorations in their homes. There are many dangers that come with hanging Christmas lights on a home’s exterior.
Every holiday season, an estimated 13,000 people injure themselves by falling off the roof or getting shocked by Christmas lights. Landlords are usually held responsible for a tenant’s injuries if it is proven that loose or slippery roof tiles were part of the reason for the fall. There is also a high chance of electrical shock or overloading of the existing breakers. You could still end up in a legal battle even if your property’s roof is not an issue.
Another reason not to allow your tenants to hang their own Christmas lights is the possible damage to your rental property. Nails, screws, and other hardware are often used to secure strings of lights, garlands, and other Christmas decorations, which can leave ugly holes in walls, both interior, and exterior.
These small holes on exterior surfaces can invite insects or water into the walls of the home, which can cause extensive damage and lead to expensive repairs. There are a lot of ways to decorate without causing damage to walls or exterior surfaces, however, you won’t know if your tenant will do any of these. Since they are renters, they might not be as cautious as an owner would.
You can keep your tenant and rental and property safe by offering another way to enjoy Christmas lights while freeing you & your tenant of any liabilities. A good option is to hire a professional to put up Christmas lights on the home for your tenant. Since professionals carry their own liability insurance, they can do the job faster and safer than your tenant could.
Moreover, professional light installers often provide post-holiday services so they can also take down the Christmas lights from the home in a timely manner. Given all of these, paying someone to do your Christmas lights installation on your rental house doesn’t seem so bad at all.
In addition to the safety of both your tenant and your property, you can also build goodwill with them and improve your landlord-tenant relationship by making their holiday decorating less of a hassle.
Whether it be Christmas lights installation or routine property maintenance, the holidays can be a busy time for someone managing a rental property. Why not let Real Property Management Dominion do it for you? Our property management professionals have the resources and expertise you need to feel confident that your investment and your tenant are both safe and sound this holiday season. Would you like to learn more? Call us at 757-395-4274 or contact us online today!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
