Fireplace

[Michael Bertsch]

Hello BP community! I just bought my first rental property (SFR) and it has a fireplace. Should I allow tenants to use it? Or, is it too much of a liability?

[Colleen F.]

@Thomas S.  I disagree sometimes there are other reasons to put in an upgrade.   In the northeast having a second heat source in the rental saved  frozen pipes when the electric was out for days. Yes I could do a generator but that is more bother, tell the tenants to turn on the fireplace.  If you have a gas insert there is also less chance to start a fire then leaving it to them not to use a wood fireplace.  Protecting your asset is sometimes a  factor in an upgrade.