A good and sturdy fence is one feature that many renters look for when deciding on a St. Clair Shores rental house. Most notably in the single-family rental home market, a fenced yard is quite a great impression that will attract long-term renters. Although when a fence gets broken, who spends for the repairs? The answer to that question depends on two things: the condition of the fence upon move in and how the fence was damaged.
If the fence around the property is in excellent condition but destroyed by your tenant or their guests, your tenant is commonly held accountable for repairs. However, 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?
It doesn’t matter where the rental property is, there are available state and local laws that necessitates all property owners to warrant the habitability of the rental homes and make sure that they are 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. For this reason, and regardless of whether they are decorative or important to the structure, fences are considered part of the property and must be kept in good repair. A broken-down fence is a safety hazard and creates unwelcome liabilities for a landlord.
What is the State of Wear and Tear?
Fences had to be maintained habitually and checked on a consistent basis, practically the same as any other feature of a 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 true even if a fence becomes further damaged due to tenant ill use.
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 situations should be covered by a landlord’s insurance policy, meaning it is the landlord’s responsibility to make the essential repairs.
Who Caused the Damage?
If the fence around your rental home is in good repair but your renter or one of their guests damages it, the tenant is usually responsible for repairs. 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.
Most leases declare that when it comes to a renter triggering damage to the property or allows others to do so, that renter is then accountable to pay for repairs. If your tenant refuses to do so, most landlord/tenant laws permit the landlord to subtract the cost from the security deposit.
Ensuring that a complete and detailed move-in/move-out checklist is filled out between every tenant is one way of documenting the condition 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 hire Real Property Management Silverstone, you can be confident that such steps have been taken and that every aspect of your St. Clair Shores rental home is being monitored regularly. If you are interested in learning more contact us online or by phone at 586-992-6419.
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