How to legally block off a deck from use (Unsafe)

[Jeffrey Hennen]

Hello Bigger Pockets community,

I find myself in the situation of rehabbing a property, specifically dealing with a second-level deck that has an exterior glass sliding door. Due to safety concerns, I need to temporarily board off the sliding door as I rent out the upstairs unit. The deck is currently unsafe, and the repair is scheduled for late spring/summer when weather conditions allow.

Previously, I lived in this unit and had to address several issues to make it rentable. Unfortunately, I couldn't complete all the necessary work before my tenants moved out at the beginning of the year. Among the critical repairs, the deck replacement is a priority due to unstable railings and a broken post causing sponginess in the center.

My proposed solution involves purchasing something like this product from Home Depot, along with a couple of 2x4s screwed into the fence panel and outside frame of the door. This setup aims to prevent people from going outside the door while maintaining the scenery outside the window. Additionally, I plan to place signs on the inside of the door and panel explicitly stating that it's not to be used. I'll also include this restriction in the lease agreement, emphasizing that the deck will be repaired by July this year.

I'm open to any suggestions or advice regarding this situation. Financial constraints prevent me from delaying the rental process, but I'm also committed to ensuring the safety of the tenants during this temporary arrangement.

Thank you for your insights.

Jeffrey Hennen