Hello,

My name is Jenny. I have a renter that has been in my single family home since Sep 22 2007. On April 14th 2008, they called to ask when will someone be cutting the grass. Lawn maintenance was not promised or implied to them when they signed the lease. In fact, in the move in letter, I stated "for your convenience, we will refer you to a lawn service company for your lawn maintenance should you choose to purchase it." It also states that they must maintain the property in the same condition that it was delivered to them. It has been 7 months and they are just bringing this up. Do I have to provide lawn maintenance? Or is this just an ammenity. The property is in WV.

No, if they ask when someone will be cutting the grass, tell them, you don't know, ask them who they hired, nad perhaps they need to call them.

Remind them that if they do not maintain it, you will hire someone and bill them for it. They are trying to get something free from you. They must believe you don't know what you are doing, perhaps you are not an experienced landlord and they can tell.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jenny Jenny

Hello,

My name is Jenny. I have a renter that has been in my single family home since Sep 22 2007. On April 14th 2008, they called to ask when will someone be cutting the grass. Lawn maintenance was not promised or implied to them when they signed the lease. In fact, in the move in letter, I stated "for your convenience, we will refer you to a lawn service company for your lawn maintenance should you choose to purchase it." It also states that they must maintain the property in the same condition that it was delivered to them. It has been 7 months and they are just bringing this up. Do I have to provide lawn maintenance? Or is this just an ammenity. The property is in WV.

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If it isn't your responsibility under the lease, it's not your responsibility. The other part of this is will they let the grass grow up to their knees?

They will be in violation of the lease if they do nothing.

Hello:

WV?? They probably got old cars on the lawn that the grass is hiding...

excon

Typically lawn maintenance would be the responsibility of the tenant.

Hello again:

I had a landlord who once called me to tell me he was coming over to spray for weeds. I told him to bring the lawnmower and be there every two weeks, because I liked my home to look nice.

I never heard about the lawn anymore.

excon

Hello again, Judy:

It's really a matter of who is responsible for lawn care. Either the landlord is or the tenant. It can't be both.

Who would be responsible for a dead lawn if they BOTH were caring for it?

excon

You could re-send a copy of the move in letter and highlight the pertinent lawn part to them. This should answer their questions regarding who s responsible for the lawn maintenance. At least I would hope this answers their question!

[QUOTE=excon]Hello again, Judy:

It's really a matter of who is responsible for lawn care. Either the landlord is or the tenant. It can't be both.

Who would be responsible for a dead lawn if they BOTH were caring for it?



I think if the lease is silent it's the tenant's expense, same as snowplowing.

Agree, it can't be both. I was referring to reeling from shock when you would ask me when I was coming over with the lawnmower. I'm lucky if I get my OWN lawn mowed!

The other side of this is if the landlord takes responsibility he/she knows the grass has been mowed.

Or chip in and buy a goat or two.