Who Is Responsible For Lawn Maintenance: Landlord Or Tenant?
Numerous obligations and responsibilities are entrusted to tenants by their landlords. Some jobs are strictly for the landlord, others can be shared, and others could be enjoyed by the tenants. Some tenants like to paint their house, as if it is their own, and offer to paint it back, before they leave. Some tenants enjoy doing the gardening and cutting their grass, whereas others prefer for the landlord to get a gardener.
As people have been spending more time at home in recent years, lawns have become a highly sought after perk for rental properties. Tenants’ increasing need for outdoor space has led to a rise in confrontations as to who is accountable for what in respect for garden care between landlords and tenants. There are cases when landlords and renters have conflicting views about the optimal assignment of these tasks. One particularly vexing responsibility is yard maintenance.
With the pandemic people were forced to work at home, working at home where there is a garden, means that there is a nice outdoor space to work as well. It becomes an extension of the home, or even of the office!
Legally, landlords are required to maintain the property’s structural integrity. This is the legislation, as stated in Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985. In terms of the property’s façade, it would include liability for managing things like fences, pipes, and roofing.. However, the rental agreement should be cited as the final arbiter as to who is accountable for simple yard maintenance like mowing the lawn. Whatever is stated in the lease agreement must be followed by the tenant. An agreement for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) would often include common conditions that require tenants to mow lawns and maintain control of weed infestation. This is the bare minimal amount of maintenance that is necessary to keep a landscape looking presentable.
In addition, if your renters want to enhance the lawn to make it more visually attractive or throw a celebration or have a party, it is vital that they understand what they are entitled to do and what constraints apply for the usage and upkeep of the yard in a leased property. In the end, clarifying a tenant’s garden privileges and maintenance obligations is important, as such identifying negligence and how it will be handled. Having a nice garden can also attract new tenants to the property when the current ones move out – and that is a bonus for both parties.
