The landlord responsibility pool facilities bring is not to be underestimated. In areas like Texas, where summers can be extremely hot and humid, having a pool in your property can sound like such a great idea. Imagine drawing in high-paying renters at the speed of light. That’s the dream, right? But is it? For landlords, renting out a property with a pool means more than that. There’s a lot more to consider regarding the landlord’s responsibility for pool amenities in rental properties. If you’re facing the same dilemma, let’s dive a little deeper and weigh whether pools are a profitable amenity or a liability risk. Read below to learn more!
Key Takeaways
- Properties with pools often draw higher-paying tenants who are willing to pay more for this premium amenity.
- Pools require regular cleaning, chemical treatments, and increased insurance coverage, which can impact profits.
- Texas laws require specific safety measures for pools, and landlords may be liable for accidents if standards aren’t met.
Why Pools Are Both an Asset and a Risk in Rental Properties
Based on our experience in property services management in Austin, we understand that it can be hard to definitively determine whether pools are beneficial for rental properties or not. This is simply because, much like any other amenity, pools come with their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look.
Pros of Renting Out a Property with a Pool
In order to understand whether pools are an asset or a risk, it’s important to understand the benefits this amenity can bring to your rental property business. With this in mind, let’s jump right into the pros of renting out a property with a pool.
Attract Higher Paying Tenants
As we’ve mentioned earlier, pools are great for regions where summers can be uncomfortably hot. This amenity provides access to a sure-fire way to beat the heat. That is why one of the benefits of renting out a property with a pool is that it can attract high-paying tenants who are specifically looking for (and can afford) this feature. Having high-paying individuals as long-term tenants can significantly boost your rental income.
Potential for Higher Rent Prices
Speaking of rental income, having a pool also allows you to charge significantly more in rent. Pools are an added amenity, one known to be premium or luxurious one. Meaning, when your property has a pool available, you can translate this into a higher monthly rental rate. You can also justify the higher rate to cover the additional maintenance and insurance this feature entails.
Better Tenant Retention
In our experience, when you find tenants who are particularly looking for a rental with a pool, they aren’t just more willing to pay for it. Even better, they’re more likely to keep it for longer. After all, you can’t find homes with a pool just anywhere–they’re quite the rare commodity. In turn, tenant retention means you’ll have fewer vacancies, less turnovers, and more predictable and stable rental income.
Curb Appeal and Property Value
As a landlord and a property owner, another potential benefit of having a pool is that it can enhance your property’s curb appeal and market value. Imagine how your property looks with a magnificent pool as the jewel of your backyard. It’s a sure way to make your rental stand out and, possibly, even edge out the competition.
Aside from that, a pool is a desirable amenity that will increase your property’s value if you decide to sell later on. In fact, swimming pools can increase your property’s market value by up to 54%, making it a viable real estate investment option.
Cons of Renting a Property with a Pool
Now that we’ve covered the advantages of renting out a property with a pool, it’s time to look at the potential challenges, disadvantages, and pool liability issues. Knowing them will allow you to be ready for the landlord responsibility pool properties bring. Here’s a review:
Seasonal Use
Starting with the lesser con, a potential risk of renting out a property with a pool is that it may only be attractive during summer, but a hassle to use and maintain the rest of the year. This puts pools as more of a liability, since even your tenants use them sparingly after summer, the pool still needs to be maintained regularly.
Insurance Requirements
As an owner of a property with a pool, it is part of your responsibility to get insurance to cover the risk of having this amenity. Typically, basic homeowner’s insurances cover minimal or none at all for swimming pools. So, you need to get better coverage to ensure that you’re liability-free and risk-free. However, this will come at a higher cost.
In addition, most insurers have other safety requirements that you need to fulfill in order to be eligible for the insurance coverage. Generally, this includes adding a safety fence (with a lock), having proper lighting in and around the pool area, and more.
Safety Risks and Injury Liability
Higher and More-Demanding Maintenance
Then there’s maintenance. As we’ve mentioned before, regular pool maintenance is necessary, even if it’s barely used. For example, pools generally need to be cleaned often (weekly or biweekly) as well as tested and treated to make sure that the water is safe to swim in. We’ve found that this alone can cost you anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on the type of cleaning and the size of the pool.
Pool repairs are an even bigger expense. They can reach anywhere from a couple of hundred to several thousand in our experience, depending on what needs fixing. Not to mention that running a pool increases your utilities significantly, for both water and electricity.
Landlord Liability and Pool Safety Laws in Texas
Did you know that Texas leads the country in childhood drowning incidents? So while pools can be a fun amenity for kids, it is also an “attractive nuisance” that requires proper safety measures to be in place. Now as a landlord, what is your responsibility when it comes to pool liability and safety?
In Texas, there is what is called the “premises liability”. This is a state regulation holding property owners or the current tenants responsible for any hurt or injury that occurs within and around the vicinity of the pool. To help minimize such injuries and safety risks, state law on pool yard enclosures requires landlords to comply with state-set standards. Some of the requirements include:
- Installing an enclosure that is at least 4-foot high around the pool area. This is a state law, but it is crucial for landlords to know that local city and county ordinances often have stricter or additional requirements, such as a different minimum height or a prohibition on chain-link fencing.
- Having self-closing and self-latching gates. These gates must open away from the pool area.
- You must remove, lock, or secure ladders for aboveground pools when the pool is not in use.
- If a wall of the house serves as part of the pool enclosure, any doors that provide direct access to the pool yard must have safety features such as a self-latching device, a keyed lock, or an alarm that sounds when the door is opened. It is often not a simple prohibition, but rather a requirement for specific safety features.
- Keep in mind that Texas Health and Safety Code we linked to primarily applies to multiunit rental complexes (e.g., apartments) and pools maintained by a property owners’ association. For private, single-family home rentals, it’s especially important to comply with local ordinances and general premises liability law. Even if a specific law doesn’t apply, a landlord still has the responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm to children under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine. Meaning, it’s necessary to take reasonable precautions to minimize your liability.
That said, all this is just educational information, not legal advice. You should consult local ordinances, state laws, and a lawyer to get their definitive legal takes on pool liability for landlords.
BMG: Your Trusted Property Management Partner
In the meantime, if you’re having trouble handling your rental businesses, we can step in. As experienced apartment management companies San Antonio landlords trust, we can handle regular amenity maintenance (including pools!), enforce safety regulations, and ensure you’re complying with local laws and regulations. We’ve got exactly what you need to help you reach your goals. Interested? Contact us today!
