If you own a rental property somewhere with snowy winters, you may be wondering how to deal with the responsibility of snow removal. Snow removal for rental property owners is subject to a surprising number of regulations, which can be complicated at times. For this reason, it’s critical to divide up snow removal responsibilities early. Would you or your tenant do it? This rests on a few things that we’ll talk about in the information below.
Local Ordinance
First, see your local ordinance to know your snow removal responsibilities. In numerous but not all places, local laws ask property owners to remove snow from adjacent public sidewalks and driveways, usually within a certain amount of time (usually 24 to 48 hours). However, in some areas, local ordinances go beyond simply requiring snow removal. They may also delineate where the removed snow can and cannot be piled up.
Certain communities may require property owners to remove snow from fire hydrants, benches, or open spaces next to their property. Others may limit where you can pile the snow (tossing snow on the road is against the law in numerous towns) or limit how high you can pile snow up along a walkway. Some may even restrict what types of road salt or other deicing materials you can utilize on your walkways and driveways.
Regardless of what the local ordinances offer, avoiding getting hit with fines for improper snow removal makes sense.
Property Type
When distributing snow removal responsibilities, who gets appointed the task also relies on what type of rental property you possess. For illustration, multi-family property owners are almost always responsible for snow removal. However, for single-family rental homes, most owners and landlords are able to leave the task of snow removal to the tenant.
This setup may work in a number of scenarios, mostly if your tenant already handles yard maintenance and other fundamental duties. However, it’s critical to understand that the local ordinances still apply, so you have to educate your tenant on proper snow removal practices to avoid breaking local laws.
Tenant Ability
Another crucial aspect to bear in mind is your tenant’s ability to perform snow removal jobs properly and within the deadline. If your tenant isn’t physically able to complete these tasks or is considered a member of a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you may need to make other arrangements. While requiring a disabled tenant to do snow removal is not technically illegal, a lack of consideration for your tenant could seriously damage tenant relations. In these situations, you may find the more ethical and profitable option to hire a professional property manager to accomplish it for your tenant or simply do it yourself if you prefer.
Lease Documents
Most single-family rental property owners encourage their tenants to handle snow removal. And if you’re going to do the same thing, make sure there is clear language in your lease that spells out your tenant’s responsibilities for that job. As a second-best practice, if your tenant needs to follow certain guidelines, include any relevant information from local ordinances. Clear lease documents can help your tenant understand their snow removal responsibilities and can be an invaluable resource should a conflict arise.
On the contrary, mention in the lease whether you plan to provide snow removal. You should also include expectations related to that service, such as moving vehicles or not parking on the street during snow removal service times.
One outstanding advantage of hiring a property management company like Real Property Management Excelled is that we will assist you in identifying the best method to handle weather-related maintenance at your rental property. Contact us or call 253-275-5999 today to learn more about our range of property management services in Federal Way and its vicinity.
Originally Published on Feb 4, 2022
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