Tenants buys a swimming pool

[Yaamu Camara]

Hello BP family i need your input and help on this one. My tenant bought an inflatable summer swimming pool mind you the water bill is covered by me. What do i do?

1. Ask for insurance for the pool

2. Charge an extra $50 to cover the water bill

3. Do both

Landlords please help with comments/suggestions

Thank you in advance

[Kenneth Garrett]

@Yaamu Camara

Is the pool prohibited by the lease?  If not you might be stuck.  If you determine it’s a safety hazard Or is a violation of the lease send them a 10 notice to remove it.  The ten day notice might be different in your state.  It also might be a code violation depending on the depth of the pool.  Any body of water capable of holding water greater than 24 inches requires a barrier around it (fence).  Are you insured for this?  Check your policy.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Kenneth Garrett thank you for your responses i’ll have to check on what the law says about it and confirm it is not in my lease.. thanks

[Yaamu Camara]

@Kenneth Garrett The lease does not mention anything about a swimming pool and my insurance does not cover it either. So i’m guessing this is a liability on my part?

[Kenneth Garrett]

@Yaamu Camara

At all costs protect yourself. Talk to your tenant and see if you can get them to remove it.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Kenneth Garrett sure i’ll do that! Thanks for the advise

[Joe Splitrock]

@Yaamu Camara even though your lease doesn't address swimming pools, ask them to remove due to your insurance not covering it. Also check local laws regarding swimming pool installation. Many cities require fences for pools over a certain depth. Water usage probably isn't a major concern. One time fill is usually all in a summer and that isn't a ton of money.

I know you said your insurance doesn't cover it, but double check the depth of their pool. Insurance issues occur generally over 24" deep. If it is a shallow kids pool, it is probably fine.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Joe Splitrock Thank you for your advise, i’d be sure to do that so i don’t have any liabilities and being a new investor i have a lot to learn and wanting to protect myself.

[Joe Splitrock]

Originally posted by @Yaamu Camara:

@Joe Splitrock Thank you for your advise, i’d be sure to do that so i don’t have any liabilities and being a new investor i have a lot to learn and wanting to protect myself.

 You are smart to protect yourself. For the future consider adding clauses to your lease that prohibit pools and trampolines. I also have a clause that says you cannot operate a business out of the property. That prevents day care, laundry services and any number of things a tenant can dream up. 

[Yaamu Camara]

@Joe Splitrock thank you so much you have brought out some important things i need to add to my lease going forward. I Appreciate it thanks

[Kat W.]

@Yamundow Camara

Does your lease state improvements can’t be made without your prior approval? The pool could possibly be considered an improvement and then your lease does address it. Just a possible thought.

[Samuel Liapis]

@Yamundow Camara

I know in Chicago any pool has to have a barrier around it to prevent children from drowning. In Chicago it is a fence at least 42 inches and non scalable. You need no trespassing and no diving signs.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Kat W. Thank you for the post, i never looked at it that way. And yes they cannot make any improvements without permission.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Samuel Liapis Thank you for your post i’ll have to check with the state law. I appreciate your input

[Lee Bell]

I don't think I've ever seen an inflatable pool that was 2 feet deep. Maybe it could happen.

Doubtful it would be an improvement to the property. Unless it is built in and permanently attached it's personal property.

[Kat W.]

@Lee Bell I wondered if it might not be an improvement, but thought it could be. 

[Kevin Higgins]

My tenant requested to put up a pool. One of those larger inflatable type. Luckily, the covenants don't allow it, although it would have been behind a privacy fence. But, I also told him I didn't want a big dead spot in the grass, especially on that property which is mostly clay and extremely hard to get anything to grow. And, he would have been responsible for the expense of repairing the lawn when he moved out.

[Bob B.]

Are they good tenants?

Are they paying their rent on time?

Do they take care of the property?

Is the rent at market rate?

Do they have young kids?

Is this like a 2' deep blowup kiddie pool?

Do they have renters insurance?

Will your insurance company cancel your police for a kiddie pool?

Do you have an umbrella policy?

Hopefully it will not ruin the grass.

For me it's not cut and dry. Kids have been locked up for months, it's hot outside, what's the real risk?  There's theory and then there's realty. 

How many LLs have ever been successfully sued as a direct result of their tenant having a blowup kiddie pool?   

[Carlos Gonzalez]

@Yamundow Camara

Tell them politely that they can’t have a swimming pool if they refuse tell them you would see that’s their rent will be increased for obvios reasons.

One of my tenants in a 4plex bought an inflatable pool and told them politely that I don’t allow those things due to electrical hazard precaution. They complied.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Bob B. You made great points here that got me thinking. I don’t want to come across like “ the new bad landlord” i’m conflicted because even though i want to safe myself of any liabilities i also don’t want to deprive the kids of having fun in the summer.

[Yaamu Camara]

@Carlos Gonzalez great advise i plan to send them an email or give them a call to provide insaurance for the pool. If they can’t then i’ll give them notice to remove it because it is not covered by my insurance.