Is landlord responsilbe to keep commond ground clean?

[Jeff Shu]

Hello Everyone, I have a rental property (single fmaily home) in Santa Barbara County, CA. 

I have a property management company help me to manage the rental property. 

My tenant reported that a cat defecating on the ground make it filth and unclean. He wants landlord to take care of this matter by using rocks to cover the ground. 

The specific location ( 4' * 6' long) is underneath a guest bedroom window in the front of the house. 

After researching online I found landlord responsibility under California Civil Code section 1941 described as follows

Clean and sanitary buildings, grounds and appurtenances (for example, a garden or a
detached garage) which are free from debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents and
vermin.

 The teant responsibility on the lease under maintenance section described as follows: 

E. Tenant shall properly use, operate and safeguard Premises, including if applicable, and landscaping, furniture, furnishings and appliances, and all mechanical, electrical, gas and plumbing fixtures, and smoke alarms, and keep them and the Premises clean, sanitary and well ventilated.

F. Tenant’s failure to maintain any item for which Tenant is responsible shall give Landlord the right to hire someone to perform such maintenance and charge Tenant to cover the cost of such maintenance

Premises defined in the lease as follows: 

 Landlord rents to Tenant and Tenant rents from Landlord, the real property and improvements described as: address of the rental property (“Premises”).

1. Please advise I (the landlord) should pay for labor and material to cover the area with rocks, or Tenant is responilbe to clean up the area and pay for the labor and material. 

2. If the cat or dog keep comming back to the area to leave their unrine or feces, can I ask the tenants to do some cleaning up to keep the area clean? 

The tenant stated that he is very busy and has emounous responsibililty at work and he is not interested in any garden work. 

Your input and advise is greatly appreciated!