New landlord, how do you handle tenant lawncare

[Marc Belisle]

Hello all, 

Wife and I are looking to put up our first home for rent. Just wondering about some of the small things like lawn care and what is commonly expected and spelled out in leases. 

For instance, 

I don't need an award-winning yard, however, one doesn't want to be cited by the city for unkempt, unmowed yard. Currently, I live in the home and have a lawncare company come 3-4 x a year for fertilization etc. I water and mow the yard. Our front yard trees were dying so we had them removed and now our front yard is all sun all day and if it isn't watered a couple times a week it dries up and a lot of grass dies. 

How should I address this going forward if a tenant lives there? I know you can spell out in lease that basic mowing and weeding should be done by tenant, but I was talking to a property manager yday and brought this up and he said he's "never heard" of a landlord requesting a tenant water the lawn. So if nobody waters it and the front yard dies, I no longer have a front yard. 

Thoughts? 

[Marcia Maynard]

We get the tenants onto our rental agreement as soon as we can.  Here's a clause from our rental agreement that answers your question. We have both small multiplexes and single family homes. Hope this helps!

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LANDSCAPING/YARD CARE.Regular landscaping/yard care (mowing, edging, trimming, fertilizer, weed control) will be provided by _______________________.

For all Tenants:

a.Tenant agrees to keep yards, walkways, patios and decks clear and to keep premises free of junk and debris.

b.Tenant accepts liability for all landscape damage and/or replacement of such, if caused by neglect, abuse or lack of water.

c.Tenant may plant the beds adjacent to their dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are of appropriate size and type for the beds.All plants brought or caused to be brought to the property by Tenant will be cared for by Tenant.

d.Tenant agrees not to cut or prune trees, hedges and shrubs.This will be Landlord’s responsibility.

e.Tenant agrees to properly dispose of all plant debris and agrees to not leave such on the property.

f.Landlord will consider special Tenant requests for planting and removal of plants, shrubbery and trees, but reserves the right to determine the make-up of the landscaping.

For Tenants of single family homes only:

a.Tenant agrees to mow, water, and keep the grass, lawn, flowers and shrubbery thereon in good order and condition, applying fertilizers and weed retardant as needed.

b.If there is a failure of Tenant to keep the landscaping in good order and to follow these guidelines, Landlord reserves the right to hire a landscaping service at Tenant’s expense (after a 10-day notice to perform covenant).

c.Landlord reserves the right to restore the landscaping to its initial condition, as it was at the time Tenant began occupancy, or if improved during Tenant’s occupancy, to the level of such improvement. Restoration will be at Tenant’s expense.