Zoning Issues
Not all municipalities are chicken-friendly. Some places allow residential neighborhoods to keep chickens in their yards, while some do not. As a property owner, it’s imperative to be aware of your local ordinances and properly explain them to your tenant. Otherwise, they may not feel it is essential to follow local laws and keep forbidden animals on the property, thereby exposing both of you to the risk of fines and legal troubles.
Property Damage
At a minimum, most chickens will need a clean and secure chicken coop, as well as fencing and a run. If your rental property doesn’t already have a fence and a coop, your tenant will potentially oblige to create one. Even though some chicken coops can be very nice, there’s no guarantee that the one your tenant will build will be. In addition, if your tenants decide to leave, and even if they take the coop with them, you’ll be left with dead and damaged landscaping where the coop previously stood.
Biohazard Risk
One more hazard that chickens pose is that chicken droppings are a potential biohazard. Chicken poop is nasty, smelly, and frequently gets tracked everywhere, including inside the house itself. Furthermore, chicken droppings can carry diseases that can put the health of you and your tenants at risk.
Attract Rodents and Predators
Rodents and other pests are opportunistic feeders. This suggests they will be attracted to places where food is convenient and available. Rodents love chicken coops because of this. The rodents will be lured not only to the chicken feed but also to the chicken eggs or even the chickens themselves. The same thing is true for wild animals or even domesticated cats and dogs. If an owl, neighborhood stray, or even your neighbor’s beloved pet comes into your rental yard, the following massacre will not be pleasant.
Noise Issues
Another issue with keeping chickens is the noise. Chickens can be rather noisy, even hens. Chickens generate a wide variety of loud sounds that might annoy a surrounding neighbor. If your rental property’s yard isn’t huge enough, those loud birds could eventually be a nuisance or, in other cases, even violate noise ordinances.
Despite some circumstances of tenants successfully keeping chickens, the hazards aren’t worth it for several property owners. Certainly, no two situations and rental property are identical, so picking properly for you and your tenants is essential.
Do you want help fielding tenant requests for animals, pets, or other things? Our Baxter property managers are here to assist! Contact Real Property Management Deluxe for more information on how we help rental property owners like you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment all at once.