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Summertime means it’s time to head outside and enjoy all the activities the season has to offer. And if your property provides amenities like a pool or grills, chances are your tenants are particularly happy at this time of the
year. However, with these amenities come additional risks and hazards, many of which can be easily prevented with clear policies and a little bit of enforcement. Read on to find out about some simple measures that will help keep your tenants happy and safe during the summer months.
Pool Policies
Chances are at one point or another in our childhood, all of us were sternly told to “slow down” or “don’t run” by the pool. And, sure, it may have cramped our style a little bit but it also kept us safe. As a landlord, it’s your job to remind tenants about smart poolside practices—and to protect yourself from litigation that may result from pool-related injuries.
Make sure that rules and regulations for pool use are highly visible and that all your tenants know what is expected of them. Along with posting pool rules around the swimming area, you can also include the policy as a lease addendum to ensure that all tenants sign off on your property’s rules and regulations from day one. This addendum can include everything from basic rules to (if applicable) expectations on how tenants are expected to maintain the pool and surrounding area. A sample of this addendum can be downloaded here. In terms of pool signage, you can either make your own or visit a local hardwood store, most of which carry standard pool rule signage, particularly in the summer months. Common rules include:
• Shower before entering pool
• No food, drink, or glass in pool or on pool deck
• No animals in pool or on pool deck
• Pool capacity: _____ persons
• Pool hours : ________ – ________
• No running near pool
• No diving or jumping
• No children under ______ years of age without parent
• No diapers allowed in pool
It’s not your job to play full-time lifeguard, but if you do see tenants violating rules and regulations by running or behaving recklessly in any sort of way, take it upon yourself to bring an end to the behavior. Pools can be a lot of fun, but they also present many potential hazards that no landlord wants to be held liable for.
Grill Guidelines
Aside from swimming, nothing else says summer quite like grilling. Unfortunately for landlords, grilling brings with it a significant fire hazard. As with pools, it’s imperative that tenants know—and abide by—a strict set of grilling policies.
You will want to ensure that the grill is not within a certain distance of your property’s building in order to prevent potential catastrophe at the hands of flying sparks or an out of control flame. It should also be made clear that only adults are allowed to operate a grill. If you see any questionable behavior, don’t hesitate to take grilling privileges away from tenants. Clearly, a fire hazard is nothing to mess around with.
Noise Notice
With the days lasting longer and lots of outdoor fun to be had, more than any other time of year, it’s easy for tenants to get carried away during the summer, inadvertently disturbing other building occupants. Again, setting forth expectations or a noise policy in the lease is a good way to ensure that all tenants understand your rules and regulations. The early summer months are the perfect time to send tenants a reminder about building noise policies and expectations in terms of quiet times and noise levels.
Offering summertime amenities like swimming pools and grills is a great way to keep tenants happy and feeling good about their residency in your rental unit. Just be sure to guard against potential liability by making sure relevant rules and expectations are clearly communicated to and followed by your tenants.
Check out the Buildium Blog for more property management resources.
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