All Topics / Help Needed! / gardening and lawn mowing costs. Who pays??

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  • Profile photo of BillyTBillyT
    Participant
    @billyt
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 24

    I am looking at buying investment properties in NZ, they will be freestanding houses. I was wondering if someone could tell me who is resposible for maintaing the garden and lawns.

    Must the landlord pay a gardener or are tennants required to maitain the property?

    Thanks everyone.

    Profile photo of PropertyGuruPropertyGuru
    Participant
    @propertyguru
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 1,502

    I think untill you don’t have any special condition tennants will pay for that. at least for my properties Tennants paying here in OZ and in NZ also.
    Good luck!

    Cheers
    PropertyGuRu [sultan]
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    Profile photo of Robbie BRobbie B
    Member
    @robbie-b
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 2,493

    I would bet that if the lawns grew wild and the Council got involved, it would be the landlord who cops the fine for not maintaining the yard. Placing something in the lease may give the landlord some recourse – ie: keeping some bond money.

    Robert Bou-Hamdan
    Mortgage Adviser

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    Profile photo of BillyTBillyT
    Participant
    @billyt
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 24

    thanks guys,

    So basically if i get a line in the contract stating that maintaining the lawns and gardens is the tennants responsibility then that should cover me against any problems??

    Profile photo of Robbie BRobbie B
    Member
    @robbie-b
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 2,493

    It won’t cover you against problems but it will tell you who is responsible.

    Robert Bou-Hamdan
    Mortgage Adviser

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    Profile photo of byronent_2byronent_2
    Participant
    @byronent_2
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 337

    Must be put in the lease.

    If not, they can let it go wild, ruin your lawn and garden and it is very costly to get it back to a nice standard when you have to get a new tenant

    Byronent
    Adelaide SA

    Profile photo of ScreminScremin
    Member
    @scremin
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 448

    Mind you, having a nice landlord who cops the $20 every 2 months to mow the lawn was quite nice. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the tenant and in most agreements it will have a section about how the garden is to be maintained.

    We had a rather large yard though, so the landlord had a mower man come in one every second month to tidy it up. We just had to water it. No biggy.

    The last house we had, the landlord paid part of the water usage as we did not have a bore and had to use mains water to maintain the gardens. He paid 40 or 60 %. Can quite remember…

    Whatever you do do, try and keep the gards as simple as possible. Most tenants can’t stand gardening and the less they have to do, the better.

    Steph.

    Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

    Profile photo of scottalotscottalot
    Member
    @scottalot
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 7

    Not sure where you live but I’ve had a look at one of my tenancy agreements. This one is through the RTA http://www.rta.qld.gov.au Part 11 page 3 of 10 shows the special terms that are the responsibilities of the tenant. It gives an idea of things such as pets, pest control, front garden and back yard etc. Check the website for the Tenancy authority for your area. I’ve dowloaded and used these forms often.

    Scott Bevis

    Profile photo of RYEDGERYEDGE
    Member
    @ryedge
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 11

    As I understand it, the tennant is responsible for maintaining the lawn and gardens. However in my experience tennants can neglect these duties even at the best of times, leaving you wondering what state your gardens are in.

    Perhaps incorperate the cost of a regular monthly gardener into your rent price, and use it as a positive point with prospective tennants.

    They get well looked after presentable gardens, all year round without having to do it themselves.

    Ryan Crawford

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