Good grilling guide: Helping your tenants stay safe this summer

28 Jun 2019 03:17 PM

With the heatwave here, many people will be planning on having a barbecue this weekend. As a landlord the idea of your tenants firing up the grill in your garden may fill you with trepidation. But you don’t need to pour cold water on your tenants’ summer.

In this article first published in Residential Property Investor magazine, RLA insurance partner Rentguard looks at what you should do to protect your tenants and property.

While there is a small risk attached to barbecues if they are not properly tended and maintained, there’s no reason why your tenants can’t safely enjoy overcooked sausages in the sunshine without any sparks flying.

Include a BBQ clause in your tenancy agreement. There’s no need to ban barbecues outright at your property, unless the lease specifies that they are not allowed, but it is important to formally establish some basic rules to avoid any ambiguity.

Pre-season once over

If you provide a barbecue with the property, you are obliged to check it is in good working order. This can be done during one of your regular inspections – just let the tenants know in advance. If the tenants have their own barbeque, flag up in your communications that they are obliged to take care of the maintenance and should ensure it is safe to use.

Write to your tenants

If you have not got a barbecue clause in your agreement yet, or you would like to raise the point separately, sending your tenants some basic rules outlining barbecue safety and highlighting anything in the tenancy agreement that relates to barbecuing at the property is helpful.

Here are a few tips to pass on to them:

Now kick back, add some sunshine and your tenants have got the perfect recipe for a great – and safe – barbecue.