Guide to Garden Maintenance at Rental Properties

Properties with gardens are desirable, but it also adds jobs such as watering, weeding and mowing.

 If the garden is part of a rental property, who is responsible for doing them?

 That’s a question that has vexed many tenants and landlords over the years. So, here’s an outline of responsibilities for maintaining outdoor areas at a rental property.

 But first… a disclaimer

 This article provides a general overview of common issues; it does not constitute legal advice. If you’re in any doubt about what’s expected of you, always refer to your tenancy agreement.

Tenant responsibilities

 It’s up to the tenant to keep the garden in a good condition and ensure that at the end of the tenancy, it’s in the same state as it was at the start. This means:

• Removing rubbish.
• Doing simple tasks like weeding and sweeping up leaves.
• Watering (if there are healthy plants when you move in, they should still be alive when you move out).
• Ensuring shrubs and lawns don’t get overgrown.
• Repairing any damage that you’ve caused during the tenancy. For example, if you break an item of garden furniture, you need to fix it.

 Other key points

•  If you’re green-fingered and want to make changes to the garden, discuss this with your landlord first.
•  A landlord is not obligated to provide gardening equipment; however, they may supply items like brooms or trowels to help you with maintenance.
•  If you’re uncertain about what state the garden was in when you moved in, look back at your check-in report for a detailed description. 

Landlord responsibilities

The landlord is responsible for big jobs that require specialist training, such as:

• Lopping branches off tall trees.
• Replacing damaged fences.
• Fixing a shed roof.
• Repairing walls or fences.
• Pest and insect control (unless it’s clear that the tenant has caused the problem). So, if there’s a serious issue with bees or wasps, the landlord is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the tenant.

 Other points

•  Consider minimising possible causes of friction by planting low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants and removing structures such as greenhouses.
• Look at outdoor areas when you carry out periodic inspections so if there are any issues, you can raise them early.

Contact us here at BRIGHTWATER  today to learn more about our property management services.