Backyard fire pits have become a mainstream trend in outdoor entertaining over the last several years, and patios and other outdoor areas are increasingly being converted into family gathering areas.
As the owner of a single-family rental home in Marysville, you want your residents to feel at home in your rental property, which often means allowing them to personalize the house and garden in their own way. However, some renovations, like adding a freestanding fire pit or a lawn fire area, are much more dangerous than others and put both residents and property owners at risk.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits start around 3,700 fires each year, and, thanks to the growing popularity of fire pits in recent years, injuries related to their use tripled from 1,330 to 3,608 in just six years. Numerous cities and districts now have laws detailing whether fire pits or outside fireplaces are allowed.
However, proper construction and safe use practices of fire pits can reduce some of the dangers involved. If you’ve decided to add a fire pit to your rental property, there are things you can do to safeguard both your real estate investment and your residents. Fire prevention experts recommend that a fire pit be at least 10 feet away from any structure or neighbor’s yard and placed on a non-flammable surface, such as bricks or concrete. Fire pits should never be placed below a porch roof or low-hanging trees and should never be used when windy or when air quality measures prohibit their use. The experts also caution against leaving a fire pit unattended and recommend keeping children and pets away from the open flames.
If you have a resident that has installed or used a fire pit without your approval, you cannot trust that they have taken the necessary precautions or that they understand basic fire safety. Not knowing about a fire pit on your rental property won’t stop it from causing injury and harm, which is why the regular monitoring of all areas of your rental home is a critical part of quality property management.
At Real Property Management North Puget Sound, we know what it takes to protect your real estate asset. Our comprehensive and professional property management services offer proper oversight of your rental homes and can give you total peace of mind. You won’t need to worry about your residents accidentally burning down your Marysville property when we’re on duty. For more information, please contact us online or call us at 425-903-8500 today!