My First rental property - questions?

[Mathew Scott]

Hi all, I just purchased my first property in the Durham Region, Ontario. I'm currently trying to setup all of my paper work (leases, rental app etc...) What is the consensus on this forum with regards to the following;

Length of lease - month to month vs term and why you've chosen one over the other?

Utilities - my property is a duplex. Do you prefer to pay utilities yourself and collect from the tenants or have them pay the utility companies directly? My first thought is because it's a duplex I don't want one tenant collecting from the other, I'd rather pay myself and collect from them.

Lawn care and snow removal - how do you deal with this? 

All advice appreciated

Thanks