Updating post from Reddit.
Are there any legal implications?
If I make the gate electric am I responsible for its upkeep?
Am I responsible for any damage to property or person?
Edit for more information:
The previous tenant asked and electrified the gate. I had people de electrify it when they he left.
I have all the parts and infrastructure required, I would request that the new tenant pays to have it reinstalled and signs something absolving me of liability if something were to go wrong (injury or damage to property)
My question is more so, if immediate cost isn’t a factor, are there any issues with fitting the gate?
Would a signed agreement that the tenant requested the gate to be fitted and accepts all liability for consequences actually absolve me of responsibility in court?
They can "request" all they like - why are you even considering this?
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Huge concerns ..
Is this a common feature for properties in the area .. ?
The regulations regarding automated gates .. causing injury .. preventing access in the event of an emergency ..
Providing an electricity supply to an outdoor appliance .. additional time and effort for electrical safety testing .. extra work in doing the EICR in future ..
Ongoing upkeep of the gate .. it's new sensors .. control equipment..
The tenants agreed to the property as it was specified ..
Not saying it's not possible if you thought it was appropriate .. but this is not a job to try to do cheaply ..
Come on, it's a gate. I agree those things you listed are part of electric gate maintenance but it's good to invest in your properties! You've listed all that with a tone of LooK aT hOw mUcH wOrk it is. In reality many of those items like familiarising yourself with regulations, if there's any, will be a once in 5 years exercise!
Whether you want to invest in it or not is a different question but let's not discard property improvements just because they don't bring in an immediate rent increase. If you lived in the property it's obvious it'd be pretty damn convenient esp if the property is in a higher traffic area where you'd feel awkward blocking the road while you open the gate.
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There is no need to install this for your tenant.
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Answer still the same.
Thanks
Don't get involved, the documents absolving you of responsibility are probably worthless.
If the tenant really wants to pay for an automatic gate, let them do it themselves.
Tenants can effectively do what they want with a property and you can claim any damages back from the deposit when they leave.
Ok thanks
Your main concern will be that they put right anything they do to install it, basically don't make a pigs ear of doing so and leave you with a messy trench down the garden and unsafe electrics terminating at your front wall.
So they'd be responsible for it, and putting everything back how it was (though with an option to leave it in place when they move out if you were happy with that), getting it installed properly and safely etc. and not ruining your garden, gate or path in the process.
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Yes to all three. Tell them to grow up
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You would have to maintain it every year. If it breaks, u will have to foot the bill. If it was me, I would just politely decline. It’s not a necessity to have an electric gate.
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I'm a property manager and routinely get "requests" from tenants for all sorts of things.
There is nothing that can absolve you from responsibility, no matter the contract you sign with them. If the gate malfunctions and something happens, it will be on you as the landlord and ultimately the owner of the property.
The maintenance and putting right all issues with the gate will also be on you. Imagine that the tenants offer to pay the initial instilation fee but then a massive bill comes related to "faulty" wires ( for example ). The tenant can always turn around and say they don't want to pay anything anymore and you as the landlord will be stuck with fixing it. Worse, if it poses a danger to life, you're on a timeframe.
My advice to you is to never agree to any modifications you wouldn't want to do anyway and you wouldn't be prepared to fix if broken.
Sounds like solid advice, thanks
Yes. Yes, and probably.
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Personally wouldn't be bothering.
It would be different if the tenant was asking you to replace a 10 year old oven that was knackered.
But this is asking for a perk ontop of a perk which they already knew about.
I'd be suggesting they can have it done if they want to foot half the bill. That way they get what they want and the house is 'upgraded' but you are not forking out a silly amount for something that isn't needed
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Why did you remove a perfectly good installation, now to ask us about installing it again? Just pick whether or not you want an electric gate for the tenants and do that. You either want one or don't, don't make the tenants take on all this cost only to have them remove it later, wtf
Because I was unsure of the liabilities. The cost of re installation is low and the tenant agreed to a price without an electric gate. Having them pay to reinstall it is hardly unfair
And then you get to keep all the equipment? No thanks mate
They rented knowing it was not electric, id just say no. Sounds like far too much expense and responsibility for upkeep
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> If I make the gate electric am I responsible for its upkeep? Am I responsible for any damage to property or person?
Yes, its expected you increase the rent to budget for increased maintinance and upckeep costs. You will want sensors to decrease chance of damage but have a good insurance policy regardless.
I'm not sure why you removed it, if its all their i'd just put it back in and expect the odd bit of maintinance off your top-line.
Having had electric gates before I feel I can weigh in. They are a pain in the ass.
They can and do knacker up. And need upkeep. And if they don’t open and the tenant forces them (which they will if they need out) That can further cause damage.
You’ll be liable for getting them installed and fixing them.
Would I have them again in future. Probably - but I’d know they would come with a side of headaches. Would I do it for a rental property, probably not unless every house in the street had them.