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The interaction of outdoor space and tenants is an often overlooked aspect of leasing agreements; however, addressing this up front is essential for maintaining both the value of your property and tenant satisfaction. In commercial multifamily properties, leasing agreements often focus heavily on the interiors of units, but outdoor areas like patios, balconies, and shared green spaces play a critical role in how tenants experience and enjoy the property.
If your commercial property’s outdoor space sustains damage, whether from tenants’ actions or a natural disaster such as flooding, ATI Restoration can help. With more than 70 regional offices across the country, we offer rapid 24-Hour Emergency Response services to our customers. Our restoration experts are standing by to assess your situation and provide a detailed plan of action. Our priority is to help you return to normalcy as quickly as possible.
Below are a few important factors related to outdoor space and tenants that should be included in your leasing agreements to avoid misunderstandings and potential harm to your property:
While it may seem straightforward, the type of furniture tenants choose for their outdoor space can vary wildly. From indoor sofas to dining room tables, tenants sometimes move inappropriate items outdoors, which can reduce curb appeal and create potential safety hazards.
To avoid these issues, your leasing agreement should specify what types of furniture are acceptable in an outdoor space. Make it clear that only proper outdoor furniture–in good condition–is permitted. Indoor furniture can be damaged by rain, pests, or sprinklers, and moving it back and forth between inside and outside could introduce water or pests into the property.
Letting tenants personalize their outdoor space with plants is a great way to help them feel more at home. However, it’s important to set some guidelines in your leasing agreements to ensure safety and property upkeep. For example, you can regulate the size and placement of planters to avoid clutter or blocking high-traffic areas.
You might also want to require that plants are well-maintained and placed in pots with trays to prevent water damage or stains on patios.
Grills, fire pits, and patio heaters can make an outdoor space more enjoyable for tenants, but they also pose fire risks if not used properly. It is essential to include specific safety guidelines in your leasing agreements regarding their placement and storage.
For example, you could require that any grill or fire pit be positioned a certain distance from the multifamily property’s exterior walls to prevent damage. You can also address proper storage of propane tanks or other fuel sources to ensure tenant safety.
Tenants often want to personalize their outdoor space with decor, but not all decorations are suitable for multifamily commercial properties. Your leasing agreement should cover what types of outdoor decor are acceptable, such as string lights, banners, or tiki torches, to maintain the aesthetic appeal and overall safety of the property.
Be sure to include rules about the storage of items like bicycles, children’s toys, and other items, which can clutter an outdoor space and affect the appearance of your property.
Defining acceptable use of outdoor space is important to avoid conflicts between tenants or issues with property maintenance. Clearly stating the limits in your leasing agreements not only protects the property but also ensures that tenants understand their responsibilities. Addressing things like noise levels, parties, and even pet use of the outdoor space can help prevent misunderstandings.
Once your leasing agreement includes a section outlining considerations about the outdoor space and tenants–and is signed–you need to make sure that tenants follow the outlined rules. Many landlords are surprised by how much damage can occur in these outdoor areas if tenants’ guidelines aren’t clear. By covering all details in the leasing agreement, you protect yourself from potential liability and costly repairs.
If your property’s outdoor space sustains damage due to tenants’ activities, ATI Restoration can help. We are experts in managing commercial and residential property restoration, whether the damage is caused by fire, water, or other unforeseen events. Our team is available 24/7/365 to assist with restoring your property efficiently and minimizing disruption to your tenants.
As trusted experts in both residential and commercial damage restoration, our multifamily disaster recovery services are unmatched. No matter how complex the job may be, ATI Restoration is capable of addressing all types of multifamily properties, such as:
This list is not exhaustive. If you own or manage any type of multifamily property that’s been impacted by a disaster, contact ATI Restoration immediately.
Even with signed leasing agreements in place, you can’t control the relationship between a multifamily property’s outdoor space and tenants’ actions. However, you can control your preparedness for unexpected events.
With an Emergency Response Agreement (ERA) with ATI Restoration, you are guaranteed priority service in the event of an emergency. As a leading restoration and reconstruction company, we often receive numerous calls in the wake of a disaster, but your company will be our priority, and restoring your property will be our top concern.
ATI Restoration offers the full spectrum of disaster recovery services for commercial properties, including:
ATI Restoration is proud to be a reliable and seamless partner in disaster recovery. Before formalizing a vendor relationship, our team collaborates closely with your company’s key stakeholders to fully understand your needs, challenges, and current disaster recovery plan.
ATI Restoration is proud to be a trusted and reliable partner in disaster recovery. We have restored multifamily properties across the nation for years. Each project is managed with the highest level of skill and speed, ensuring that your property—and the lives of your tenants—are back to normal as quickly as possible.
Contact ATI Restoration today. Our teams are standing by 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to address your needs. When disaster strikes, you can feel confident that ATI Restoration will be there.
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