Who supplies salt or sand for walkways during Minneapolis winter?

Question

Hi Everyone,

It seems that the walkway on our property may have ice sometimes during the winter.

Does the landlord typically supply the tenant with salt/sand for walkways in Minneapolis? And if the landlord typically supplies, is salt or sand better?

Wendy

Heather S. · Answer

I also supplied SMALLER scoops for the buckets as well.  Although I did learn - salt/sand mix is probably better - the salt did a number on my concrete step/sidwalk.  I also hired a shoveling/plowing company and was stopped onsite at least monthly (normally every other week) to make sure the front porch and back entry weren't icy.  Partially because I was a new owner and also because I wanted to check on the job and I did the monthly wiping everything down (yes clean freak here but my tennats all comment about how clean the laundry room is..  )

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Do you put up "Slippery When Wet" signs every time your tenant mops the floor? Or do you expect them to be adults and take responsibility themselves?

Your lease should spell out who is responsible for ice/snow removal. If it doesn't, then you should draw up a short addendum/notice and give it to your tenants before the first snow falls.

I require Tenants to take responsibility. If it's an apartment complex, then I hire someone to do it but I also provide shovels and snow because some tenants leave early in the morning or come home late at night before removal has happened.

Jeff Schemmel · Answer

@Wendy Man

This is not necessarily advice, but I both supply it and take it up on myself to do snow removal and when I do that I apply salt myself and kindly remind my tenants that it's icy and to use the supplied salt liberally.

I self manage and I really believe in that.  I'm also not one to ask my tenants to take care of anything like lawn/snow for a discount because I have my own standards for that sort of thing and I prefer to not rely on a tenant to do it and deal with the hassel when they inevitably do not take care of it.  That's also a good amount of responsibility that requires attention and prompt planning.  I also don't own a ton of doors so, like I said, not advice but just sharing my stance on this.

Paul De Luca · Answer

@Wendy Man

It really depends on the property you have so there's no one size fits all answer. If it's a larger apartment complex, the owner or management company usually hires a contractor to do the snow removal and apply salt in the exterior common areas. If you're self managing a 2-4 unit property you could choose to supply and apply the salt yourself or if you want that to be the tenant's responsibility you should spell that out in the lease.

Salt is going to be more effective at keeping reducing ice around the property.

James Hamling · Answer

If your being smart about it, yes, 100% Landlord supplies this, in double the necessary need because getting sued for a slip-n-fall is not worth it right. A salt/sand MIX is best. And have multi containers if need be, in multi places. And photo that they are there, readily displayed and labeled, for use by any and all to put out.

And a snow service should be applying salt/sand as part of there service.

Amber Gonion · Answer

@Wendy Man we do not supply salt, the worry would be that if they run out and then slip and fall they would blame us.  It infers responsibility, having a disclaimer in the lease and putting the responsibility on the tenant is the best option along with requiring tenants to have 100k in renters insurance, as well as having proper insurance ourselves.

This would of course apply to sfh, th, and small multi units.  10-unit and above should have enough maintenance to provide and clear ice daily as needed.

As far as salt, calcium chloride is the best as it is safe for concrete.  Sand is helpful when the ice is too thick to melt quickly or really cold temps slow the process.

If you have a lot of properties you can buy a pallet of bags at US Salt, otherwise we would get them at local big box hardware.

Wendy Man · Answer

Thank you everyone, for the extremely helpful comments and insight.  Stay warm this winter!

Who supplies salt or sand for walkways during Minneapolis winter?

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