Who is Responsible for Landscaping (Landlord or Tenant)
The roles and responsibilities when it comes to rental properties can be a bit confusing. No matter what, renters have certain things they need to keep up with and maintain, while of course landlords and property managers have plenty that need to be responsible for. Nowhere does that become more apparent than with the yard and outside areas. Who is responsible for landscaping (landlord or tenant) can become a field of landmines when there aren’t clear expectations that are outlined.
Our Boston property services include the day-to-day overseeing of all these things. So, we know how it can be. Being sure that things are spelled out plainly in a lease agreement goes a long way towards future issues. It also helps to know what the typical rule of thumb is in Georgia and in general. So let’s jump into this topic and figure out what landlords and tenants should know.
Table of Contents
- Who is Responsible for Landscaping (Landlord or Tenant)?
- Overview of Landscaping Duties and Responsibilities
- How Professional Property Management Could Help
Who is Responsible for Landscaping (Landlord or Tenant)
Legally in Boston and Massachusetts as a whole, landlords are responsible for maintaining safe and habitable premises. While specific local ordinances may not detail every aspect of landscaping maintenance, landlords are generally expected to keep the property in good condition to comply with the Massachusetts Sanitary Code. As you will see, Massachusetts does not outline specifics when it comes to landscaping. It does not explicitly explain who is responsible for landscaping (landlord or tenant), at least not at the state level.
While the code does not explicitly mention landscaping tasks such as mowing lawns or trimming shrubs, landlords should make sure that the property’s exterior does not violate local health and safety regulations. That also means knowing their lawn-related ordinances. For example, in Lexington, MA there is a bylaw that sets specific hours during which residents and commercial landscapers can operate equipment like lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Do you know whether there are such ordinances in your neighborhood?
The main takeaway is that landscaping duties should be outlined in a rental agreement… after researching your own local laws that relate to them. A common rule of thumb is that landlords are often in charge of most or all landscaping duties in apartment buildings and situations where there are many units, while tenants are often responsible when it is a one-family home that they are renting. But again, it is best not to assume and make sure that duties and responsibilities are transparent and in writing on a rental or lease agreement.
Overview of Landscaping Duties and Responsibilities
So what is involved with the broad category of landscape duties? There is quite a lot, so it might help to think of it under a few smaller categories… most of which are seasonal tasks. Each one has a lot to plan for an think about.
Lawn Mowing and Watering
Under this umbrella includes the most obvious task: lawnmowing. And yes, that is quite the task. Lawnmowing includes the cutting of grass with a riding or push lawnmower, but it also includes secondary tasks such as trimming of sidewalks and grass sweeping or blowing in order to get sidewalks and other surfaces free of grass after those other tasks are done. There is also shrubbery. Does your property have a lot of bushes and shrubs? While those do not need to be trimmed as often as the grass is mowed, it is another task that needs to be accounted for.
What about watering? Unless you want your grass to burn and turn yellow or brown over time, regularly watering the grass is a necessary part of lawn care maintenance. There are all kinds of advice to help make the landscaping of rental property manageable and efficient, but creating an overview of all the tasks, including watering, is an important part of the process. Options such as installing underground watering systems might even be on the table, which is an investment but one that might pay off in the long run.
Leaf Raking and Snow Removal
When asking yourself who is responsible for landscaping (landlord or tenant), the question of big seasonal burdens like snow and leaves come into play. In some places like Boston, snow removal at a rental property can be a huge task… and leaves aren’t exactly easy either.
As with most of the lawn-related duties, snow and leaf removal is often the responsibility of landlords with multi-unit rentals. More often than not, landlords or property managers are responsible for fairly large yards and so they hire professional services to take over for those things. It’s all part of the cost-benefit analysis that people do when managing rental property.
Pest Control
Don’t forget about pest control! In most parts of the country, it becomes a necessary part of keeping up with yard and lawn care. The moment you have a beautiful courtyard or outdoor space that you want to boast to potential new residents, then suddenly you realize that you need to account for mosquitoes, ants, and all kinds of seasonal creatures and critters. Having a regular service that comes out and sprays – along with treating the grass in various ways – can make a big difference in making the spaces more attractive to tenants in the long term.
How Professional Property Management Could Help
When it comes to outdoor or indoor rental property maintenance, the year-round to-do list can become a major burden. If you’re asking who is responsible for landscaping (landlord or tenant), you are probably debating just how much you can take on as a property manager, landlord, or owner. And as a tenant, it is important to read your lease and understand your responsibilities and what tasks the landlord will complete.
Fortunately, there is help out there for landlords bogged down by day-to-day rental duties. The professional staff at Bay Property Management Group understands how valuable the landlord-tenant relationship is. Our team works diligently to assist landlords and tenants with maintenance needs, lease questions, and so much more. To find out more about our property services management, give us a call today.