In many rental agreements tenants are responsible for lawn care and landscape maintenance. When renting to the military be sure to educate them on lawn care practices since they may not be familiar with local weather and seasons!
Maintaining the curb appeal of your property is as important as mechanical maintenance. Keeping the lawn cut and shrubs/trees trimmed can help ensure your property isn’t referred to as “that house” on the block. When renting to military members, remember that they are new to the area and may be unfamiliar with local lawn maintenance requirements. Be sure to educate them upfront regarding the requirements for maintaining the landscaping to ensure your rental property maintained as expected.
Know What Your Property Needs
As a property manager, you should make sure that landscape maintenance responsibilities are clearly outlined in the rental contract. Beyond the contract you can also provide a simple checklist of maintenance items along with tips and a recommended schedule. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page with regards to landscape maintenance expectations and goes a long way towards preventing any issues.
Does the tenant maintain the lawn?
Once you have established your property’s landscape needs, build those requirements into either your lease or additional agreement. You may want to specify grass height or how often it should be mowed, the care of any existing beds, and your policy towards changes to the landscaping. Include clear and specific instructions for the handling and disposing of limbs, branches and substantial yard waste. Remember that your tenant is likely not familiar with local policies and services. Make it simple so it’s done correctly.
Fertilization and Pest Control
Provide clear guidelines regarding any chemicals used on your property. It might be worth the investment to pay for seasonal services yourself. If not, provide tenant with a list of approved service providers and your expectations for what is and is not applied.
Yard Shrubbery, Flowering Bushes
If your property features any shrubbery or flower bushes, provide your tenant with specific care instructions – especially plants that require seasonal pruning. Many local nurseries can provide you with detailed care sheets that you can pass on to your tenant.
Why is Good Lawn Maintenance Important?
A beautiful and well-maintained lawn contributes significantly to the value of your property – and boosts the appeal for your next potential renter! By managing expectations from the start, you increase the likelihood that your property’s lawn will be photo-ready when it comes time to list it again. If your tenant doesn’t understand the local weather’s impact on your yard or is not clear on your expectations, a simple lack of care can add up to significant expense for the property owner!