Renting out our house - trampoline in garden

conradmum

We're going to be (hopefully) renting our house out when we move abroad in August but we aren't sure what to do about the trampoline in our garden. We haven't consulted any letting agents yet but are in the process of sorting through our stuff and deciding what to get rid of and what to keep.

The problem is that the trampoline is partially sunk into the ground, with the earth from the hole it's in mounded up around it (now grown over with grass). The effect is that you can step on and off it, and if you fall off, you don't fall any further.

I'm concerned whether this would be viewed as a hazard, as there is necessarily a gap underneath the trampoline that a small child could conceivably crawl into by squeezing down through the gap between the trampoline and the surrounding ground.

I'm still not at all up to speed on requirements in rented houses other than the necessity for a gas safety check and fire safe furnishings. Could anyone advise on this particular query or any other potential hazards we should be mindful of?

flora48

I would have it removed, in these days of Health & Safety and compensation culture I wouldn't take the risk.

westernpromise

I'd get rid of it. It's only going to be useful to a family with children young enough to want a trampoline. Others will be put off. Even then, any such family may not want your trampoline. They lose their bounce and if they don't have a net around them there is a non-trivial risk of injury to children who fall off them (I know of two kids at school with trampoline injuries just in my daughter's year). If that happens and it was you who left the trampoline there, you could presumably be liable.

Jenniefour

Same here.

lilab_2

Definitely take it out.

http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/adviceandinformation/leisuresafety/trampoline-safety.aspx

edinburgher

Another one who'd remove it here.

As others have said - the only people who would like to see a trampoline in the garden might be a family with young kids. Anyone else would see it and probably think 'oh great - I wonder what other crap they've left lying around the house?'

00ec25

i think there is little debate about this isuse, as a LL you are rrequired to exercise a duity of care towards your tenats , this would include undertaking a health and safety risk assessment

given you have already identified the risks in your OP and have no control over these once tenants are in place there really is no option but to remove it

conradmum

Many thanks for all your replies. We'll definitely remove it. A bit of a shame as I'm sure prospective tenants' children would love it. Still, something else for the skip!

pinkshoes

Boo! I'm a grown up (!) and a rental property with a trampoline would be a plus point for me!! My 7 year old cousins have one, and it's SO much fun.

Could you not wait until you have tenants, then ask if they want it left or not, and have someone on standby to remove it and fill in hole if not?

conradmum

pinkshoes wrote: »

Boo! I'm a grown up (!) and a rental property with a trampoline would be a plus point for me!! My 7 year old cousins have one, and it's SO much fun.

Could you not wait until you have tenants, then ask if they want it left or not, and have someone on standby to remove it and fill in hole if not?

Unfortunately we can't Pinkshoes, though thanks for your reply. We're moving abroad and the property will be dealt with by letting agents. We need to make things as simple as possible.
Also, a tenant could say they want the trampoline to stay, then when their child has an accident, sue us. Not fair but not unheard of in this day and age.

bris

It's too much of a hazard to leave, if anyone hurts themselves on it then a no win no fee solicitor could very well argue that, as part of the fixtures and fitting, it was unsafe and hazardous to the tenants, therefor the LL is liable.
I would ask a few neighbours if they want it and ask them to come and take it away, failing that a free ad on gumtree would soon shift it.