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

Providence Rental Property with a Beautifully Well-Maintained FenceA durable fence is something a lot of renters desire when selecting a Providence rental household. Notably, in the single-family rental home marketplace, a fenced yard is a decisive charm for long-term renters. But for cases wherein a fence gets damaged, who gives for the payment for repairs? The answer to that question depends on two things: the condition of the fence upon move in and how the fence was damaged.

In case the fence over the property is in marvelous standing but impaired by your tenant or their guests, your tenant is automatically obligated for restorations. Yet if the property’s fence is damaged by weather or another outside source 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?

Despite where your rental property is placed, there are state and local laws that command property landowners to make their rental homes livable 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 then again, ensuring a house is fit for compliance with the code would also include the yard and any exterior structures. Consequently, and irrespective of whether they are elegant or imperative to the construction, fences are observed to be part of the assets and must be maintained in excellent condition. 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 is true even if a fence becomes further damaged due to tenant misuse.

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 must be safeguarded by a landlord’s insurance policy, which denotes that it is the landlord’s responsibility to make the requisite fixing.

Who Caused the Damage?

If the fence all the way through your rental home is in excellent condition but your renter or one of their guests ruins it, the tenant is generally accountable for reconditions. 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.

A good deal of leases state that if it turns out a renter makes any harm to the property or permits others to do that, that renter is then compelled to pay for the repairs. If your tenant refuses, most landlord/tenant laws let the landlord debit the worth from the security deposit.

Ensuring that a comprehensive and systematic move-in/move-out checklist is filled out for each tenant is just one way of supporting 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 appoint Real Property Management Providence, you can be assertive that such a step has been involved and that every piece of your Providence rental home is being watched on an consistent basis. If you are interested in learning more contact us online or by phone at 401-272-3300.
