Lawn care woes for elderly couple in a duplex

[Andrea P.]

I have a side by side duplex. My lease states that the tenants mow their side of the lawn. I have an elderly couple that paid my other tenant ($5/wk...enough to cover gas) to mow their lawn as well. Now that tenant has since moved and the new tenant wanted more ($15/wk). He also often uses a lawn service...the same one I use for my own home. It became a real issue last summer as the one side was mowed weekly and the other by-weekly or longer! The elderly couple are on a fixed income and I’m willing to pay for lawn service for the one side. Do I have differing lease statements concerning lawn care or leave both leases the same and just pay for lawn care for the elderly couple?

[Larry Alexander]

To keep the peace all around, raise the rent to cover lawn care and include it. Buy a twelve pack of marigolds in the spring and plant them. That upgrade should make everybody smile.