When your Balcones Heights tenants have asked for permission to get a hot tub, you may be curious about what to reply to them. On that basis, tenants who buy and install a hot tub usually cover all the costs and maintenance involved. However, getting a hot tub on the property may pose serious risks, certain instances may end up with costly repairs, litigation, or much worst. Before allowing your residents to have a hot tub, it’s important first to understand all the risks and benefits it brings.
If your property doesn’t already have a hot tub or swimming pool, you may be unsure about agreeing to let your tenant install one. Among the two, a hot tub is far less expensive and requires far less alteration of the property. After all, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any implications for your property. For instance, most hot tubs should be installed on a concrete pad or another platform, most of which are permanent fixtures. While the padding might be in use while your current tenant is renting the house, what follows when they exit? Will they take the hot tub with them, or leave it behind? In case they get it, are you going to be okay with an empty concrete pad sitting in your yard? All of these are questions you should ask and answer before making a decision.
From the beginning, you might see an opportunity to allow your tenants to have a hot tub. Adding a hot tub to your rental property can be an attractive feature for future tenants. You may also be able to charge a higher rent merely by offering either a hot tub pad or a hot tub itself. If your tenant decides to leave the hot tub behind when they leave, you could wind up with a nice little bump in your property values.
However, there are several issues to consider, as well. Hot tubs require quite a lot of maintenance. To keep a hot tub clean and properly maintained, keep in mind that you need to test and adjust the spa water at least twice a week. The spa filter should be cleaned once a month, and the entire spa drained, scrubbed, and refilled three or four times a year. The spa cover should be removed and aired out twice a week to prevent mold, and the water levels carefully maintained. You may assume your tenant will do all of the upkeep, but what if they don’t? A neglected hot tub could become a serious health hazard, at that point, it is no longer just your tenant’s problem, but yours as well. If your tenant leaves the hot tub behind, the maintenance – and costs involved – are now your responsibility.
Another thing to consider carefully is the increased risk of injury or death. When used properly, hot tubs are relatively safe. But wet surfaces may result in increased slips and falls, and each tub or pool always carries the risk of drowning. Everyone who uses the hot tub should be carefully supervised and follow proper safety precautions. Trusting your tenant to do so may look like too big of a gamble since injuries from misuse could still become your legal nightmare. Besides, some tenants may not want to have a hot tub because of these reasons, which will restrict your number of potential candidates the next time you need to find a new tenant.
There are many reasons not to allow a hot tub on your Balcones Heights rental property. But if you decide to allow one, at a minimum, you must require a separate agreement to help you to mitigate the risks involved. If you want your tenant to remove the hot tub or the concrete pad when they move out, it is necessary to put that in writing, as well. Either way, it is important to have a detailed discussion with your tenant about their request and then communicate your decision afterward.
If you’re managing rental properties in Balcones Heights and would like more insight on how to write your lease agreement, the Balcones Heights property managers at Real Property Management Alamo can help. Contact us online or call us at 210-600-5672 today.
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