Wood Stove in a Rental Property

[Anthony Beckham]

Hey BP,

I recently bought a property that needs a little TLC before turning it into a rental. I'm currently laying new laminate floors throughout the house and have now gotten to the living space which contains a wood stove. Before cutting and laying floors around the stove I have to make a decision. 

I've been up in the air about whether or not a want to remove the wood stove. It's in code. It works just fine. However, I'm not certain I want to give permission to my tenants to be starting fires in the living room. Something about that just leaves me uneasy. It also does take up more space than I would prefer, and don't want to decide to remove it later and then have to redo the floors on that side of the room.

What do you guys think?

Thanks.

Anthony Beckham

[Thomas S.]

Never allow tenants to have any wood burning stoves or fireplaces.