If your Pembroke Pines rental property doesn’t already have a fence, you might be hesitant if you should have one built. Or maybe your tenant has asked for permission to build a fence on the property. Either way, you’re faced with two crucial questions: does your rental need a fence, and if yes, who will install it? The first step to making a better decision is to understand both the pros and cons of a fence for your rental property.
There are many advantages to fencing a rental property, but probably the best reason you might consider doing so is that your ideal tenant needs a fence. Depending on the neighborhood and your renter demographic, a fenced rental property could greatly improve its value.
In the single-family rental home market, you must know what type of tenant you want to rent to and create a property that will best appeal to that group. This goes double if you’re looking for ways to improve your tenant base. If you’re trying to bring an exceptional kind of tenant in the door, adding a fence to your rental property might be useful. Tenants with families or pets are regularly one of those who will be keener to choose for a rental home with a fence over one without.
However, building a fence on a rental property in some areas doesn’t make any sense. Fences can be a pricey improvement project; that’s why it is necessary to take it seriously. Some tenants do not prefer a fence, while others consider them an annoyance that confines their views.
Moreover, in some neighborhoods, municipalities or owner’s associations, they have strict regulations about what type of fencing materials are allowed or even if you can have a fence on the property at all. If setting up a fence doesn’t make sense for your area, tenant demographic, or budget, there doesn’t seem to be much reason to do so.
But what if your current tenant has asked for a fence? If you’ve received a letter of request, it’s important to take it seriously. This is especially true if your tenant is a responsible long-term tenant, and you want to build better relations with them. Building a fence for a tenant isn’t as uncommon as it may sound at first. In the end, a fence is a property improvement that will most likely add to your property’s value. You can also often use a new fence as a tax write-off, which could be advantageous.
If there are significant barriers to fulfilling their request, whether because the HOA prohibits fences or there are strict zoning laws, it’s important to communicate those reasons clearly with your tenant. Simply informing them “no” may make them feel hurt or resentful and might even motivate them to try and build a fence themselves – potentially without your permission and without obtaining the necessary permits or approvals first.
On the other hand, sometimes allowing a tenant to build a fence on the property may be a great offer. This is especially true if you know your tenant can do the job perfectly and if they offer to pay for the materials. If both of these things are true, you may feel confident in allowing a tenant to carry on with the project.
However, there are a few possible drawbacks to trusting your tenant with such a major property improvement. If your tenant builds a fence, you obviously don’t know what materials they decide to use and the construction quality. If your tenant installs a fence using cheap or flimsy materials or doesn’t do a good job, your property could quickly become a neighborhood eyesore. An uninviting or poorly built fence may have a huge unhelpful effect on not only your property’s curb appeal but your property values as well.
Because fences often sit on property lines, there is also the possibility that your tenant will damage other properties, injure themselves, or cause hostility with the neighbors. People living nearby may not want a fence so close to their property and may disagree with having one built.
There are also buried gas lines, water lines, and other utilities to avoid. If your tenant suddenly breaks a gas or water line, you could end up not only with angry neighbors but an expensive repair bill from the city as well. The same goes if your tenant somehow ends up hurting him or herself or others. Not only might you be responsible for paying hospital bills, but you might also wind up the target of an exorbitant lawsuit as well.
Do you have questions about which upgrades and improvements are right for your rental property? Give Real Property Management Premier a call at 954-362-5235! We can help you maximize your rental property’s curb appeal without blowing your budget.
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