You might be asking how to handle the responsibility of snow removal if you own a rental property in a location with snowy winters. Snow removal for rental property owners is subject to a plethora of regulations, some of which are quite complicated. This is why, long before the first snowflakes fall, it’s crucial to distribute snow removal responsibilities appropriately. But who should be doing it – you or your tenant? That is dependent on a few factors, which are covered in greater detail below.
Local Ordinance
Primarily, review your local ordinance to comprehend your snow removal responsibilities. In several but not all locations, local laws ask property owners to remove snow from next to public sidewalks and driveways, usually within a given period of time (usually 24 to 48 hours). However, certain local ordinances go beyond simply requiring snow removal. Additionally, they could specify where the removed snow can and cannot be piled up.
A few municipalities may require property owners to remove snow from fire hydrants, benches, or common areas next to their properties. Others may limit where you can pile the snow (throwing snow in the road is against the law in many towns) or how high you can pile snow up along a walkway. Some may even limit what kinds of road salt or other deicing materials you can use on your walkways and driveways.
Whichever the local ordinances indicate, avoiding getting hit with fines for improper snow removal is vital.
Property Type
When dividing up snow removal responsibilities, who gets allocated the task also depends on what type of rental property you possess. For illustration, multi-family property owners are almost always responsible for snow removal. However, for single-family rental homes, the majority of owners and landlords can allocate the task of snow removal to the tenant.
In many circumstances, this arrangement can work, primarily if your tenant already handles yard maintenance and other fundamental duties. However, it’s crucial to remember that the local ordinances still apply, so you must educate your tenant on proper snow removal practices to avoid breaking local laws.
Tenant Ability
Another critical factor to remember is your tenant’s ability to perform snow removal duties accurately and on time. If your tenant isn’t physically able to carry out these responsibilities or is considered a member of a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you may need to make other arrangements. A lack of consideration for your tenant could significantly damage tenant relations, even if it is theoretically permissible to require a disabled tenant to do snow removal. Hiring a professional property manager to handle it for your tenant or, if you’d rather, managing it yourself may be the more ethical and profitable option.
Lease Documents
Most single-family rental property owners require their tenants to handle snow removal. And if you want to do the same, it’s crucial to incorporate clear language in your lease that specifies your tenant’s responsibilities related to that duty. Another recommended practice is to incorporate any useful data from local ordinances if your tenant needs to follow certain rules. Detailed lease documents can help your tenant understand their snow removal responsibilities and can be an invaluable resource should an argument occur.
In addition, if you plan to provide snow removal, mention that in the lease as well. You should also include expectations regarding that service, such as moving cars or not parking on the street when snow removal services are being provided.
Hiring a property management company like Real Property Management Coral offers multiple advantages, one of which is that we will help you distinguish how best to handle weather-related maintenance at your rental property. Contact us or call 954-708-1222 right now to discover more about our range of property management services in Sunrise and neighboring areas.
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