Landscaping equipment accessible to tenant

[James Pevey]

Hello,

I'm renting out a house on a fairly large lot with a meandering creek/ditch, trees, and grass. I bought a riding lawn mower to maintain it myself, but the tenant would like me to show them how to use the mower. Is that a liability for me? Or would they be responsible for damage to the property, the mower, or themselves?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @James Pevey:

Everything is a liability. A welcome mat at your front door is a tripping hazard.

I would talk to your insurance provider and see if you'll be covered in case of an accident. If they are OK with it, build a "release of liability" that says Tenant takes responsibility for any injuries or damage caused by use. Spell out who is responsible for repair or replacement if the machine is broken.

Here is one of many sites you can use to build a contract: https://www.lawdepot.com/contr...