Tenants offering to install fireplace

We are currently renting a house through friends. It used to be their PPOR but they built their dream house and convert old PPOR into IP.

We love the house, great suburb, etc. we are due for a rent increase and it might be a deal breaker for us financially.

So I'm trying to think outside the box. We have access to beautiful designer fireplaces and could offer to install one in the house as a way of a rent increase...

If you are a landlord, is it something that could interest you?
Would a design fireplace add value to an IP? (If that matters retail price is ~$5k + installation costs)

I know for a fact they love the design of the product but does it matter for an IP?

At the end of the day I just need to talk to our friends but thought I'd check the idea here first as I wouldn't want to come across with a silly deal.

 

• Does it suit the house?
• Hmmm, fires in houses? Who's responsibility is it to keep the flue clean?

 

Most landlords exclude fireplaces from the tenancy due to the need to know what you are doing lest there be a firey end to the tenancy.

 

It does suit the house.
Good point about the flue. While we are the tenants that wouldn't be an issue but could be with other tenants.

 

That is an interesting topic: how are gas fireplaces handled typically for an IP? Are they simply disabled prior to tenants moving in? Or is there some kind of regular maintenance/check conducted by the fireplace company to ensure compliance?

Would be keen to hear from some of the PMs on the forum about this, perhaps @D.T. or @Xenia could shed some light?

 

Gas is fine in my mind, wood burners are the issue.

 

We have rentals with combustion heaters, like anything they can become a problem if misused.

Landlords responsibility for upkeep and maintenance.

Whether you should install or not, as long as it's professionally done - it's up to the landlord to accept or not. There are no rules here.

 

Would lean towards gas rather than wood as is safer and cleaner.

 

I'd prefer gas.
But are fire places common for the area? Eg does everyone in town get excited they get to fire up the chain saw in preparation? If it's a city location no way

 

I would say no to a wood heater / fireplace due to the fire issue and ongoing maintenance obligation. Less is best in a rental. The less stuff provided, the less that has to be maintained.

Perhaps there are other ways you can be helpful to your landlord in lieu of a rent hike. Perhaps you can mow their lawns or help with painting one of their IPs...

 

As a landlord if I was going to increase the rent and the tenant told me no, but I'll install a fireplace instead, this would be me:

 

Haha too funny
I wouldn't go about it that way, that would be pretty disrespectful. You all gave me some things to pounder. Will update this thread if we do decide to have the discussion with the landlord.