Tenant Cutting Grass in 4-Fam a Liability??

[Max James]

Does anyone out there have one of their tenants in a non-single family building cut the grass?  Seems pretty basic to just provide a lawn mower and pay the tenant to take care of the grass.  However, isn't it risky to provide the lawn mower for the tenant if the tenant were to get hurt?

I am thinking I will do this by buying a lawn mower and drafting a lease that is similar to a Rental Equipment contract.  Which will state they are responsible for up keep of the equipment.  Still seems like it could be risky.

I'm basically trying to think of ways to eliminate cutting the grass myself and also eliminate having to use a company who will charge $50/cut.

[David Dachtera]

@Max James,

The only way I can see that working out is if the tenant already has a landscaping business and your building - the tenant's residence - becomes a client of the tenant's landscaping business. Even then, you pay them through their business, no discounts on rent or any of that. The tenant's business should already have the needed insurance, but you still may open an unnecessary liability. Check with your business attorney.

Otherwise, yes - hire a service having no connection to your building: a kid up the street as suggested, a professional landscape business, etc.