Although it’s a year-round job, property owners are especially busy with landscape maintenance during the summer months. But for rental property, there is often confusion as to who is responsible for the landscape maintenance: the owner or the tenant?
If your home is rented to tenants, ask yourself these questions:
• Does a tenant take as much pride in your lawn as you do?
• Can you expect your property to be taken care of as well if it’s a rental property?
• What are the responsibilities of the tenant/landlord when it comes to lawn care?
The landlord, the tenant, and the lawn
Whether you have acres of land needing upkeep, or have a less labor intensive condo, landscape maintenance can be a gray area for rentals. Murfreesboro area property management companies agree that the job of landscape maintenance should fall to the property owner and not to the tenant, unless tenant landscape responsibilities are specifically spelled out in the lease.
A well-kept yard can boost the overall appearance of your home. But, when it comes to landscape maintenance, it’s more than just the lawn.
The low down on tree trimming
Trimming any trees and shrubs on the property is an area of maintenance that should be completed at least on an annual basis. Tree and shrub trimming falls to the property owner, and may be best to employ a professional tree trimming service.
Trimming your trees and shrubs has many benefits including:
- Reduce the risk of damage to your home from branches that are too close to windows, siding, and roof.
- Increase the longevity of the tree or shrub by removing branches that can cause problems to overall health.
- Ensure the safety of those on the property from being hurt by a falling branch.
A-La-Carte Agreement
An a-la-carte agreement is a “middle of the road” type lease agreement. For example, the property owner may be willing to pay a portion of the water bill to ensure the tenant waters the lawn. This arrangement can be beneficial to both because only a portion of the responsibility is on either party.
Real Property Management Rental Solutions handles these situations daily. In our experience, the first step is to decide on what works best for you, the property owner. Should you need professional assistance with any aspect of your rental property, we’re here to help and just a phone call away!