Tenants installing a pool?

Question

Do I have to put it in the lease that the tenant can't install a pool if I'm the one paying the water bills? The least has already been signed and they move in next week. I don't have anything in the lease mentioning the installation of a pool, but they mentioned installing a pool and it clicked in my head TODAY that I'm paying the water bills (mom brain took over).

Account Closed · Answer

Just send them an email saying the daughter told you they were planning on putting in a pool, and you wanted to be sure they knew that was not allowed, because your insurance doesn't allow them because of potential danger.  Sorry.

That way the insurance company is the bad guy and you have it in writing that you told them they can't have one, in case they do it anyway and something happens.

They'll just turn on the sprinkler all day for them to run through.

You'll have to change your lease for next time, and in the meantime, you could put water restrictors on the faucets and hope the tenant doesn't remove them.

Account Closed · Answer

Renter's insurance only covers the renter's belongings, it doesn't protect you from being sued for negligence of having a pool on the property. You need to talk to your insurance agent and ask if your policy covers you for the pool and if not what insurance you need.

Account Closed · Answer

Your insurance will be cancelled. What if a child drowns in the pool?

Kevin Paglia · Answer

@Cindy Chan this is a familiar situation.  My wife was renting a house for business and her partners wanted to put in a pool.  the deal they were offering was IF they were allowed to put in the pool then the value of the pool would go towards buying the house at the end of the lease.  The owner said no to the deal, two years later that house is still sitting vacant and on the market.  (It is priced well over 200K of market value.)

Wesley W. · Answer

I have several parts in my lease that addresses this, because I have been down this road:

19. ALTERATION:  You may not make alterations or additions, nor install or maintain in the apartment, or any part of the Premises, any fixtures, large appliances, devices, structures, or signs without our written consent.  This includes any painting.  Any and all alterations, changes, and/or improvements built, constructed or placed on the Premises, unless otherwise provided by written agreement between you and us, be and become the property of us and remain on the Premises at the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

Most people have a similar paragraph, and I would consider a pool a "structure."  So, you could use that if you have something similar.  But here are some additional policies I added to the lease after my own "pool incident":

(e) No wading or swimming pools of any kind may be used, set up or operated on the Premises.  No water-filled furniture is permitted without our written permission. Keeping aquaria greater than 20 gallons requires our written permission.

(m) No trampolines or similar apparatus may be set up or used on the Premises, nor any item which causes a suspension or cancellation of our insurance coverage or an increase in insurance premiums.

Also, I pay the water bill and it is very expensive here.  So I have a provision in my lease about outside watering.  But I also have installed a valve in the basement (no tenant access) so the outside spigot can only be used if it is turned on.

(g) Water may not be wasted. Washing of vehicles is prohibited. Garden hoses may not be connected to bath or kitchen faucets.  Water leaks must be promptly reported to us.

Early on in my tenure, I had a $600 water bill in a fourplex because of outside water use, and that was enough for me.

It's all about tightening up your lease to avoid the same situation in the future.  We've all had these challenges, and the key is to adapt so as to avoid it happening again in the future.  I always tell myself I am only allowed to make each mistake once.  But it's even better if you can learn from someone else's experience before you have your own.  Good luck!

Pat L. · Answer

We had one put in a small blow up & I found out when the bldg inspector jumped all over it threatening compliance fines. They had to install a 42" high fence etc etc so they gave up. Another did the same at a SFR in a different town & again the bldg inspector wanted it permitted, fenced in & approved by the property owner. It went away as the costs were not worth it. But some towns may only require fencing on certain pool heights etc. As mentioned earlier, Ins Carriers hate pools & trampolines.

Cindy Chan · Answer

@John Farady I will check with my insurance, thanks!

Cindy Chan · Answer

@Sue K. Thanks! I already put the water restrictions on the faucets and hopefully they really don’t remove them. I’ll do this and send them an email. I was beating myself up for not putting it in the lease, ugh!

Cindy Chan · Answer

@John Farady I had them get renter’s insurance, probably wouldn’t cover that, right ?

Cindy Chan · Answer

@Theresa Harris yes it says any modifications will need approval by me. However, what if is just those big blow up pools? (Not sure how big they can go)

Tenants installing a pool?

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