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Should You Let Your Southwest Waterfront Renters Hang Their Own Christmas Lights?

Southwest Waterfront Tenant Falling While Hanging Christmas LightsInstalling 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 Southwest Waterfront rental house by themselves? You have to think this through before letting 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. But that does not automatically mean that your tenants will have to forgo this part of the holiday festivities. There are many ways to help your tenants decorate their homes while keeping safety in mind.

One of the biggest reasons for not letting your tenants put up Christmas lights by themselves is the 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. There are many dangers that come with hanging Christmas lights on a home’s exterior.

Every holiday season, an estimated 13,000 people injure themselves by falling off the roof or getting shocked by Christmas lights. Landlords may still be held liable for tenants’ injuries if loose or slippery roof tiles were a contributor to the fall. There is also a high chance of electrical shock or overloading of the existing breakers. Even if your property’s roof is in good condition you could still end up in an unnecessary 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.

Even small holes in exterior surfaces can be entry points for insects or water into the walls of the home and cause extensive damage that result in expensive repairs. Even when there are many ways to decorate a home without causing any damage to walls or exterior surfaces, you can’t be sure your tenant will use them. Since they are renters, they might not be as cautious as an owner would.

You can keep your tenant and rental and property safe by offering another way to enjoy Christmas lights while freeing you & your tenant of any liabilities. One of these alternatives is to get a professional to set up the Christmas lights on the home for your tenant. Because they carry their own liability insurance, professionals have the capability to do the job safer and faster than your tenant could.

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. Even when hiring someone to install Christmas lights on your rental house might seem like an additional cost, it could be well worth the price.

With this offer of convenience for your tenant, you not only ensure their safety and that of your property, but you also build goodwill and improve your landlord-tenant relationship by giving them extra time during the holidays.

Whether it be Christmas lights installation or routine property maintenance, the holidays can be a busy time for someone managing a rental property. Why not let Real Property Management Washington DC 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 202-813-9993 or contact us online today!

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