If you own a rental property in a region with snowy winters, you might be considering how to manage the responsibility of snow removal. Regulations about snow removal for rental property owners exhibit considerable variation and can often be quite intricate. For this reason, it’s essential to allocate snow removal responsibilities in advance of the initial snowfall. But who should be doing it – you or your tenant? The outcome is contingent upon several factors, which will be elaborated upon in the following sections.
Local Ordinance
First, consult your local ordinance for insight for your snow removal responsibilities. In numerous locations, local laws order that property owners to remove snow from adjacent public sidewalks and driveways, usually within a certain period (usually 24 to 48 hours). But in other locations, local ordinances go beyond simply requiring snow removal. They may also set out where the removed snow can and cannot be piled up.
Certain municipalities may require property owners to remove snow from fire hydrants, benches, or communal spaces close to their properties. Others may limit where you can pile the snow (chucking snow in the road is against the law in numerous municipalities) or how high you can pile snow up along a walkway. A few laws may restrict the types of road salt or other deicing materials you can use on your walkways and driveways.
No matter what the local ordinances say, avoiding getting hit with fines for improper snow removal is important.
Property Type
When apportioning snow removal responsibilities, who gets assigned the task also depends on what type of rental property you own. For example, multi-family property owners are typically responsible for snow removal. However, for single-family rental homes, most owners and landlords can entrust the task of snow removal to the tenant.
A situation like this can be effective in many instances, especially if your tenant already handles yard maintenance and other basic responsibilities. However, it’s vital to recognize that the local ordinances remain in effect, so you should educate your tenant on proper snow removal practices to avoid breaking local laws.
Tenant Ability
It is imperative to take into account your tenant’s ability to perform snow removal tasks safely and punctually. If your tenant isn’t physically able to fulfill these responsibilities or is considered a member of a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you may need to make other arrangements. Although it is not technically illegal to require a disabled tenant to do snow removal, a lack of consideration for your tenant could significantly damage tenant relations. In these scenarios, you may find the more ethical and profitable option to hire a professional property manager to do it for your tenant or simply complete it yourself if you prefer.
Lease Documents
Most single-family rental property owners count on their tenants to handle snow removal. And if you want to do the same, you should incorporate clear language in your lease that stipulates your tenant’s responsibilities related to that undertaking. Another advisable approach is to include any information connected to local ordinances if your tenant needs to follow certain regulations. Clear lease documents can help your tenant understand their snow removal responsibilities and can be an invaluable resource should a disagreement arise.
Alternatively, if you plan to provide snow removal, mention that in the lease as well. What is more, you need to include expectations related to that service, such as moving cars or not parking on the street during snow removal service times.
One excellent aspect about hiring a property management company like Real Property Management Faith is that we will assist you in identifying how best to handle weather-related maintenance at your rental property. Contact us or call 317-219-4363right away to ascertain more about our range of property management services in Indianapolis and adjacent area.
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