A garden can be a real drawcard at a rental property, helping to attract and keep good quality tenants.
But garden maintenance can be a thorny subject and consistently ranks among the top five causes of end-of-tenancy deposit disputes*.
So what triggers garden disagreements, and how can landlords avoid them?
New research from Propertymark sheds some light on the issue.
First, let’s look at two key reasons why problems arise.
1 The information gap
Propertymark’s research found that 75% of landlords believe garden upkeep falls within the remit of tenants.
However, about 50% don’t give tenants specific advice or information on their garden duties.
Instead of being proactive, they rely on the terms set out in the rental agreement.
In some cases, this may be sufficient. However, in other situations, the tenant may not understand their responsibilities or may not have read their agreement for some time.
2 Cutting corners during inspections
Many landlords fail to look at the garden during mid-term inspections - thus missing out on the opportunity to spot any issues until the end of the tenancy.
It’s always easier, cheaper and less stressful to address problems early on.
How to prevent disagreements
- Make life easier for all parties by creating a fuss-free garden. While your tenants may love spending time outdoors, unless they’re Monty Don, low-maintenance shrubs and plants are best.
- Ensure the rental agreement clearly outlines the tenant’s responsibilities (typically general tasks such as weeding, raking and pruning) and the landlord’s (typically repairing decking and maintaining boundary walls and fences).
- Include photographs and descriptions of the garden/courtyard in the check-in inventory.
- At the start of the tenancy, discuss garden maintenance with your tenants. Be specific about what’s expected of them.
- Remind your tenants that they need permission before altering the garden and that they’ll need to return it to its original state at the end of the tenancy.
- Demonstrate that you take garden upkeep seriously by staying on top of your maintenance responsibilities.
- Always take time to look at outdoor areas during routine inspections.
- Towards the end of a tenancy, discuss with your tenant what needs to be done before check-out.
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*Source: Tenancy Deposit Scheme
This article does not constitute legal advice.