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Don’t Fence Me In: What Are the Boundaries for Your Keller Rental Property Fence?

Keller Rental Property with a Beautifully Well-Maintained FenceA quality fence is a welcome addition to a rental home that many renters look for when choosing a Keller rental house. Particularly in the single-family rental home market, a fenced yard is a huge draw for long-term renters. But when a fence gets damaged, who handles the cost of 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 good repair but damaged by your tenant or their guests, your tenant is usually held liable to pay for the needed repairs. However, if weather or another outside source destroys the property’s fence 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?

No matter where your rental property is settled, there are state and local laws that compel property owners to keep their rental homes fit to live in 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. Therefore, and irrespective of reasons for the fence–decorative or crucial to the construction, fences are treated as part of the property and have to 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 need regular maintenance and repair, 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 still holds true even though a fence gets damaged more 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, therefore implying that it is the landlord’s responsibility to take care of the required repairs.

Who Caused the Damage?

If the fence encompassing your rental home is in excellent condition yet your renter, or one of their guests ruins it, the tenant is typically contracted 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 state that in the event a renter causes damage to the property or allows others to do so, that renter is then responsible for paying for repairs. If your tenant refuses to do so, most landlord/tenant laws will enable 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 Meridian, you can be confident that such steps have been taken and that every aspect of your Keller rental home is being observed regularly. If you are interested in learning more contact us online or by phone at 817-678-8787.

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