Installing Christmas lights is one holiday tradition many people look forward to. But should you agree to let your renters put up Christmas lights on your Lombard rental house by themselves? Give this some thought first before allowing them. With all the possible hazards, there are many good reasons for not allowing your tenants to hang their own Christmas lights on the roof. This does not mean your tenants will have to miss out on the festivities. There are many ways you, as a landlord, can help your tenants ready their homes while keeping safety in mind.
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. As a landlord, you may have responsibility for your tenant’s injuries if loose or slippery roof tiles were a factor in that fall. To add, there is also the risk of electrical shock or overloading the existing breakers. Regardless of the condition of your property’s roof, you could still find yourself in an expensive 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 they 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. 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. A good option is to hire a professional to put up Christmas lights on the home for your tenant. Because of the liability insurance they carry, professionals are typically more efficient at their job than your tenant would be.
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. Knowing all of these, the idea of paying someone to hang Christmas lights on your rental house may not be so bad after 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.
May it be hanging Christmas lights or just doing routine property maintenance, managing a rental property can keep you busy this holiday season. Why not let Real Property Management DuPage Preferred 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 630-427-2200 or contact us online today!
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