The Wall Mounted TV
Prepare or Pay the Price
We all have TVs and with the prices so low, bigger is better. The last thing you want is for a Tenant to mount a TV themselves and few wall units or tables can accommodate the increased sizes of the common TVs. The damage a Tenant can do to the wall and what's behind it is astounding. Is there a place where it is obvious a Tenant may want their TV mounted? Is there a current mount? Communication with the Tenant and an agreement on where the mount will be installed and who will pay for the install is crucial to avoid a big surprise later.
The Lease
Your lease should state that no alterations to the premises can be made by the Tenant. This would include the installation of a flat screen TV mount.
Examining the premises
If it appears that there is a place in the rental unit where a Tenant might desire a wall mount, it's crucial to discuss this with the Tenant and decide on who will mount, who will pay for the install and if the mount will be left on the premises after the tenancy is over. If there is a current TV mount already installed, there is no guarantee this mount will fit the Tenant's TV. When your Tenant vacates, rest assured they will take their TV and often take the mount with them leaving you with a wall full of holes.
Dealing with the Tenant's request for a mount
If the Tenant wishes to have the TV mounted on the wall, you must communicate with the Owner and Tenant as to who will pay for this. Often the Tenant will pay for the mount and the installation. An Owner may want to invest into their property and pay for this if the Tenant wants a mount and it is obvious there is a place in the room where a mount will be wanted by future Tenants. Get this all handled up front. Be sure your maintenance tech can do the install and use a proper form the Tenant must sign removing liability for an improper install, limiting personal injury liability or damage to the TV. Be sure the Owner understand that the TV mount may not fit the next Tenant's TV.
Who will install the mount?
A Tenant should never be allowed to install a mount themselves. Say it again. Never.
If a Tenant attempts an install the mount, many things can happen which can cause significant damage to the home, damage that you may not discover on your periodic inspections as the damage is behind the TV.
- A mount should be affixed to a stud or the proper anchor used. The installer may drill test holes missing the stud and each hole is another bit of damage to the wall. Damage that will be hidden while the Tenant is there.
- Drilling into the sheetrock could result in the installer drilling into a water pipe or electrical or internet cable. This can cause immediate or hidden water damage or create an electrical situation that could result in a fire later. We have seen floods occur years later AFTER a screw has been removed or small undetected leaks that slowly cause significant damage.
- An incorrect or incorrectly installed anchor can result in the TV falling off the wall and injuring the Tenant, guests or damaging or destroying the TV
- If the HDMI, internet, power cables or any other cables will be installed inside the wall, the installation becomes more complicated as multiple access holes need to be drilled into the wall and the wires fed through the holes. If the wall has insulation (common with exterior walls) or there is a 2 x 4 or other obstruction blocking the cables and wires, the installation becomes more complicated yet. Most Tenants do NOT want 3 or 4 ugly cables and wires going down the outside of the wall.
Understanding Mounts
Mounts or "brackets" come with an assortment of nuts and bolts (usually metric) which, if discarded, may render the mount useless for the next Tenant.
Not all mounts fit all TV brands or sizes. If your maintenance tech installs a mount, it needs to fit the TV. This takes coordination and time. Be prepared for a complication and increased cost. Do NOT assume the mount that may exist will be suitable for the Tenant's TV.
Communication with the Tenant
Fully communicate with the Tenant regarding their TV(s). A Tenant may assume that since there may already be a mount, this will fit their TV. Often, this is NOT the case, especially if the parts and accessories that came with the mount have been discarded and usually, they have been.
Communication with the Maintenance Tech
The extra parts that invariably will be left over after an install and should be bagged up and affixed to the mount or the wall behind the TV. Lose the extra parts and you WILL be looking at a new mount for the next Tenant. There is no such thing as a truly universal mount. While it may say universal, this means it came with the parts for most TVs. The next TV may use the OTHER parts.
Taking this seriously
Since just about every Tenant will own a flat screen TV or maybe multiple ones, an unusable TV mount may already exist, OR the Tenant will want their TV wall mounted. You MUST get this all straightened out before the lease is signed and before the Tenant moves in.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Do NOT assume a preexisting mount will fit the Tenant's TV
- ✓ Assume that a Tenant may attempt a self-install
- ✓ Prohibit a Tenant from doing a self-install
- ✓ Learn all you can about mounts and speak to your maintenance tech about this
- ✓ NEVER allow a Tenant to install a mount themselves.
A successful Property Manager understands the basics of a home and how things work. We've seen so many avoidable problems due to a Property Manager's lack of basic knowledge. Take the time to learn, watch some YouTube videos, and know your limitations. Get appropriate help or bad things can and do happen. Address TVs and mounts in your Landlord's Handbook and Tenant's Handbook if you are using one or both.
Not sure how to proceed? Send an email to our office and have an attorney give you proper guidance and stipulation for the lease. Our email that goes directly to all the attorneys is info@evict.com
Need guidance on lease alterations and Tenant modifications? Contact the Law Offices of Heist, Weisse & Wolk at info@evict.com or 1-800-253-8428.
