My Tenant chopped down my tree and removed my bushes!

[Margaret Bean]

I am taking over management of my property beginning July 13 - reading "The Book on Managing Rental Properties now. Current property management company has no response to my alarm upon seeing that new tenants have chopped down a (small) tree, removed established bushes in front of the porch, and removed landscaping plants in one area of the yard. Current lease only says they are responsible for lawn maintenance. What should I do? What recourse do I have?

Thanks. I'm a total beginner.

[Marc Winter]

May I suggest, It might be better for you, as owner, to have a landscaper put in what you want, (as close as possible to original shrubbery) and charge the tenants for the bill, assuming they were not given permission, and have in fact, damaged your property.

Do NOT let them do it themselves, and do NOT let them suggest you take it out of their security.

Either of those cases:  got to court, get judgment for damages and lost rent (if any) and get them out.

People, especially some tenants, are just plain weird.  And they say and do the darndest things.  Welcome aboard.