A well-made fence is something that many renters would look for when fancying a Lancaster rental house. Conspicuously in the single-family rental home market, a fenced yard is an ideal feature for long-term renters. But by the time that the fence gets busted, who pays for the maintenances? The answer to that question depends on two things: the condition of the fence upon move in and how the fence was damaged.
When the fence surrounding the property is in superb renovation but totaled by your tenant or their guests, your tenant is customarily bound for repairs. On the other hand, if the property’s fence is damaged by weather or another outside source or if the fence was neglected or falling down upon move in, the responsibility for repairs typically belongs to the property owner. The best way to determine responsibility for fence repairs is to include specific, clear language in your lease agreements related to property damage.
What is the Current Condition of the Fence?
Despite where your rental property is found, there are also state and local laws that bear property titleholders to make sure that their rental households are comfortable and up to code. The focus of these regulations is often on the house itself, which must have sufficient weatherproofing and feature safe and functioning heat, electric, and plumbing systems.
But ensuring a house is fit for compliance with the code would also include the yard and any exterior structures. Hence, irrespective of whether they are for show or significant to the creation of structure, fences are thought of to be part of the property and must be kept in decent restoration. A broken-down fence is a safety hazard and creates unwelcome liabilities for a landlord.
What is the State of Wear and Tear?
Fences need steady preservation and renovation, just the same as any rental home. If the fence around your rental home is looking worn or hasn’t been repaired for a long time, it is the responsibility of the property owner to return the fence to good condition. This is exactly correct especially when fence becomes even more totaled due to tenant abuse.
Broken or collapsed sections of fencing is a serious safety hazard for which the property owner is responsible. This includes damage caused by severe weather or vandalism. These conditions should be included in the landlord’s insurance policy, which simply means that it is the landlord’s responsibility to make the required repairs.
Who Caused the Damage?
If the fence around your rental home is in respectable condition but your renter or one of their guests disfigures it, the tenant is commonly in charge of maintenances. Such damage must go beyond normal wear and tear, such as hitting the fence with their car or if tenants or guests accidentally break slats or l panels.
Plenty of leases require that in the instance a renter makes the unnecessary desecration to the property or encourages somebody to do so, that renter is then guilty to pay for maintenances. If your tenant rejects it, every landlord/tenant laws permit the landlord to subtract the charge from the security deposit.
Confirming that a meticulous and thorough move-in/move-out checklist is filled out among each tenant is just one way of supporting the situation of a rental home’s fence. This protects property owners from claims of existing repairs, as well as the tenant from accusations of negligence. When you appoint Real Property Management Traditions, you can be assertive that such a step has been engaged and that every piece of your Lancaster rental home is being watched on an consistent basis. If you are interested in learning more contact us online or by phone at 661-266-1400.
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.
