Zoning Issues
Not all municipalities are chicken-friendly. Some communities allow residential neighborhoods to keep chickens in their yards, while others do not. It is a good idea for you as a property owner to be aware of your local ordinances and explain them directly to your tenant. Otherwise, they won’t believe it’s important to follow local laws and keep banned animals on the property, thus 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 definitely have to install one. While some chicken coops can be very nice, there’s no guarantee that the one your tenant will build will be. Furthermore, if your tenants decide to leave, and even if they take the coop with them, you’ll be leaving with dead and damaged landscaping where the coop used to be.
Biohazard Risk
One more hazard that chickens pose is that chicken droppings are a potential biohazard. Chicken poop is messy, nasty, and frequently gets tracked everywhere, including inside the house itself. Additionally, 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. For that reason, they will be attracted to spaces where food is convenient and available. Rodents love chicken coops for this reason. Not only will rodents be interested in the chicken feed, but they may also go after the chicken eggs or even the chickens themselves. This is especially relevant for wild animals or even domesticated cats and dogs. If an owl, neighborhood stray, or even your neighbor’s beloved pet goes in your rental yard, the subsequent massacre won’t be a nice encounter.
Noise Issues
Another disadvantage with keeping chickens is the noise. Chickens can be pretty loud, even hens. Chickens create a great variety of loud sounds that might be a nuisance to a close neighbor. If your rental property’s yard isn’t adequately large, those loud birds could become a nuisance or, in a number of cases, even violate noise ordinances.
Notwithstanding a couple of occurrences of tenants successfully keeping chickens, the hazards aren’t worth it for many property owners. Obviously, every situation and rental property is not the same, so it is significant to make the right decision for you and your tenants.
Do you need assistance fielding tenant requests for animals, pets, or other things? Our Hendersonville property managers can help! Contact Real Property Management Key Response for more information on how we help rental property owners like you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment at once.