When tenants move into a new rental home, one of the first things they usually do is install decorative elements. This urge to personalize their rental home can also include the exterior of the house. Many Pinellas County property owners want their tenants to maintain the landscaping to some degree, and great tenants are happy to do so. Most renters want to be proud of their home even if they don’t own it.
However, when your tenants want to perform modifications to the exterior of the property, this is where things could quickly go awry. As the owner, you might get requests from tenants hoping to make changes such as making new flower beds, putting in new trees or plants in the yard, or transforming a corner of the yard into a vegetable garden. Additional exterior changes that tenants ask for may include new exterior doors, light fixtures, or even changing the color of the house.
Maybe you’re considering letting them make certain changes, especially if they are willing to cover the expenses themselves. However, you must remember that not all changes are good. If the tenant’s workmanship is bad quality, it can influence your property values and your ability to rent the home again when they leave.
You could always ask them to put the property back the way it was when they initially arrived, but if sod has been disturbed or plantings moved or changed, that may not be possible. Future tenants may not want to deal with the upkeep a vegetable garden needs as much as your current tenants do, and it’s things like these that make potential renters pass your property over for one with less upkeep. If your rental property is in an area with a homeowners’ association, there may be restrictions and extra permissions that you need to follow before changes are allowed.
If tenants make changes to the exterior of your Pinellas County rental property without your consent, you must take the correct next steps. You could charge them for the repairs needed and then get someone to fix it, or you could try to make them do it themselves. However, your best option is to hire a property management company that can oversee your properties for you while also dealing with unauthorized changes as they occur.
At Real Property Management TradeWinds, we understand the troubles that come from unauthorized changes to your property. We are dedicated to safeguarding your investment, and that means ensuring your tenants understand unauthorized changes and the consequences for making them. Our property maintenance programs are designed to maximize your investment’s potential while keeping costs low. For additional information about our property management services, please contact us online or call us at 727-400-4722 today!