Looking for Tenant Lawn Maintenance Feedback

[Mark Wilton]

Hi team,

I have a question around who, if anyone, charge their tenants or require their tenants to take above and beyond care of the lawn at the property. For example, applying Weed N Feed, Overseeding and generally doing maintenance over and above regular mowing?

The reason for my questions is we've got an absolute fantastic tenant who takes immaculate care of the property on the inside and generally on the outside too. They've signed a new lease and are with us here for an additional two years.

The lawn, and very possibly through no fault of their own, is in a terrible state with large patches (6ft x 6ft) of dirt and weeds though. It requires weed n feed treatment, overseeding and watering however I'm wanting to gauge how or when anyone in the BP community would address this with the tenant. The Lease does state they are responsible for Landscaping but to what degree do people clarify exactly what's required?

I'm interested to hear what you all have to say.

Thanks in advance!!

[Frank Chin]

I have a property I owned for 35 years. For 25 years, I used a landscaper.

The property is located in an area that is 99% owner occupied. They are very suspicious of absentee owners. So when they see an unkempt lawn that is the first thing they complain to the town, if they can't complain to you.

I thought of using a PM company years ago, the property being 30 to 40 minutes away. I interviewed some, one on site, and he noticed a well kept lawn, and asked if I use a landscaper. Then he tells me the advantage is if you don't have a PM company, and if your tenant goes on a long vacation, you can request, or arrange, when they come, to take all the flyers, rubbish that flies by, to pick it up. This winter, my tenant vacated, then my wife and I both got sick, and fortunately, landscape company was located in town, and I called to have then come by to shovel the snow after 2 large snowstorms.

That's why when I rented to my new tenants last month, I explained I have a landscaping company take care of the lawn already. When he said, "oh I can save you some money, let me do it", I told him, "it's OK, I'll keep my landscaper for now".