Installing Christmas lights is one holiday tradition many people look forward to. However, would it be wise to let your renters hang Christmas lights on your Bozeman rental house? You have to think this through before letting them. With all of the things that can go wrong, there are good reasons why you should not allow your tenants to hang their own Christmas lights on the roof or tall trees. However, that does not mean your tenants will have to miss this tradition entirely. There are other safer ways for your tenants to still give their homes a festive atmosphere.
The main reason for not allowing your tenants to install Christmas lights on their own is the possible 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. Hanging Christmas lights on a home’s exterior is probably the most dangerous part of it.
Every holiday season, an estimated 13,000 people injure themselves by falling off the roof or getting shocked by Christmas lights. Being the landlord, you could be responsible for your tenant’s injuries if loose or slippery roof tiles contributed to the fall. To add, there is also the risk of electrical shock or overloading the existing breakers. Even if your property’s roof is in good condition you could still end up in an unnecessary legal battle.
Tenants hanging their own Christmas lights could also cause damage to your rental property, which is another reason for you to discourage them from doing so. Nails, screws, and other hardware are often used to secure strings of lights, garlands, and other Christmas decorations and it can leave ugly holes in walls, both interior, and exterior.
Holes created on exterior surfaces could cause insects or water to seep into the walls of the home and could cost you a lot in damage repair. There are many ways to decorate without damaging the walls or exterior surfaces, but you can’t be sure your tenant will use any of those. Most renters are not as conscious about property damage as owners would be.
To safeguard your tenant’s safety & condition of your rental property, you can offer your tenant an alternative way to enjoy Christmas lights without causing any damage. One popular option is hiring a professional to install Christmas lights on the home for your tenant. Because they carry their own liability insurance, professionals have the capability to do the job safer and faster than your tenant could.
More than that, most professional light installers’ services include taking down the Christmas lights from the home once the holidays are over. Paying someone to hang Christmas lights on your rental house might be well worth the price & convenience after all!
Not only will you ensure the safety of your tenant and your property, but you’ll also build goodwill with them and improve your landlord-tenant relationship by giving them the gift of more time during the holidays.
Whether it’s putting up Christmas lights or simply any routine property maintenance, managing a rental property can take time away from your holiday celebrations. Why not let Real Property Management Bozeman 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 406-586-2226 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.
