Tenant wants to sand/refinish deck

[Michael S.]

Unit is part of a 4plex. Each unit has a small (8'x10') deck on the back, maybe a foot or less off the ground. They are in fine structural shape, but are probably due for a refinish. 

One of our new tenants (have rented for 2 months) contacted us asking if they could sand and repaint their deck. Part of me wants to let them go ahead since it needs it, but I'm leery of whether the job will be done well. 

Do you guys generally let tenants do updates like this? If so, do you have them sign an agreement stating they will be held responsible if the job is left incomplete or worse off than when they started? 

[JD Martin]

In general, we do not allow the tenants to do any repairs or improvements to properties. That said, we have enough property and experience with tenants to know that some tenants tend to assume 'ownership' of a home and want to do improvements, ask to do them or sometimes just do them. In those cases, we handle it as follows:

1. Tenant requests improvements from us - generally not done unless a) it was already on a list of work to be done, b) it is a true safety issue, or c) it is so insignificant and virtually cost-free that we don't mind doing it as goodwill. Example: tenant asked for some bathroom improvements. Bathroom was already on the list for rehab at next tenant changeover. Tenant made their own arrangements to be gone, at their expense, over a long holiday weekend and we had the bathroom rehabbed during that time. Everyone was happy, no money was spent that wouldn't have been spent anyway. 

2. Tenant requests being allowed to do improvements - generally not allowed unless it is completely reversible and causes no structural or cosmetic change to the unit. Example: a tenant asked if she could store our refrigerator because she preferred to use her own. A tenant with a permitted pet asked if she could hang her own pet door on the existing hinges and store the existing door. 

3. Tenant does improvements on their own without permission - if it is truly an improvement in our judgement then I don't say anything, because I don't care if someone wants to make my property nicer at their expense. Example: a tenant used a pile of leftover bricks behind a shed, that were of no value, to construct a very nice sand-based patio in a spot of the yard near the house that has always struggled to have anything grow there. The patio could easily be pulled up, but I wouldn't think of it as it's a great addition to the home. If a tenant repaints walls with neutral, nice colors and does a good job, without damage to the house, more power to them because it saves me a paint job. In my view, improvements the tenant does on their own without permission are either going to increase the value of my property, or they will be grounds for eviction and will be reversed using the tenant's deposit (and/or courts/insurance if more than deposit). 

As for your example: If the tenant asked me if they could do it, or if I would do it, and it wasn't scheduled, I would say no. If they did it on their own and made it better, that's great. If they did it on their own and tore up the deck, they'd pay for it. 

When in doubt about requests, the default answer should virtually always be no.