So, you have moved in your new property, unloaded your items, and are busy getting settled… But who’s responsibility is it to make sure the garden stays looking nice?
The tenants are responsible for the upkeep of both outdoors as well as indoors unless the tenancy agreement states otherwise.
- The tenants are expected to keep the garden in the same condition as when they moved in by ensuring that the grass is cut, any shrubbery is maintained and any furniture is taken care of.
- Tenants should keep the garden litter free and relatively tidy.
- If friends or family visit then it is the responsibility of the tenant to ensure that they do not cause any damage.
- If a tenant wants to make any changes the garden, they need to ask the Landlord. It can then be agreed by both parties who is carrying out the work, who is paying for it an whether it needs to be returned to how it was after the tenant leaves.
The Landlord should add any outdoor maintenance and terms they wish to be upheld to the tenancy agreement, this stops any confusion between both parties.
The landlord should always ensure there is an inventory before the tenants move in. This should show photographs of all outside areas. This helps with production of the Check Out report and with any deposit claims that needs to be made at the end of the tenancy.
Tips for Landlords
Take out buildings insurance that covers you for any damage, malicious or otherwise, to ensure that repairs can be made and you not left with a big bill!
The team at Horizon Lets work hard to ensure tenants are suitable for the properties under their management. Some tenants will go to great efforts to make their garden nice but often we see tenants that don’t focus on their gardens, perhaps because they don’t “own” them.
We are very happy to advise landlords on designing their gardens to make them suitable for tenants and to make them as appropriate as possible for renting out – while we love them, sometimes maintaining a huge lawn can be a burden for tenants!
Chat to us for advice on how to make the most out of your garden in your rental property!
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