The ongoing debate: Should rental property owners provide beach tags for tenants?

I have mixed feelings.

We are year round residents (and tax payers) and purchase at least 6 seasonal tags each year for our family/guests.  And although most of my “beach time” is before and after official beach tag hours, I appreciate that the beaches are clean and guarded for everyone.  I view beach tags as a worthwhile investment to help fund beach maintenance.

Tenants renting through our office ask if tags will be provided with the rental. Depending on their past experiences with other landlords, many tenants arrive expecting at least a few beach tags left at the property for their use.

Property owners worry that they will have to track down the tag(s) that travel home with tenants by mistake.  It can be a scramble on the Saturday change over.  Tip: one rental owner pins seasonal tags to the beach chairs left for tenants’ use.  That’s a great way to avoid loss.  

Bottom line?  Those of us who use the beach have a shared responsibility to help pay for the maintenance.  Yet tenants often expect that fee to be built into their rental, and appreciate the  added convenience of tags included.  As agents, we stress that if tags are provided, it’s a courtesy of the owner, and the exact number of tags can’t be guaranteed.