[MtSaintHelens]

Hello!

I am leasing a house with roommates for a year and have recently renewed for another year. Our property manager calls me today and says, "Hey, I saw your grass is dead, you need to water it asap." I told him upkeep of the landscape is not in our lease agreement. He said the grass was alive and beautiful when we moved in, and it needs to stay that way. We do have gardeners that the landlord pays for. I asked if there is any way the gardeners could do it and he said no I told him I am not paying for it, because WE pay the water bill, not them, and it specifically states in the leasing contract that the landlord waters the landscaping.

Maintenance
[X] Landlord [ ] Tenant shall water the garden, landscaping, trees and shrubs, etc.

[X] Landlord [ ] Tenant shall maintain the garden, landscaping, trees and shrubs, etc.

If we refuse to pay, what may happen here?

Any advice, or stories of personal experience related to this exact situation would be great.

[Fr_Chuck]

Most likely if you refuse, nothing will happen, most likely, landlord was hoping to get free or cheap yard service.

What could happen:
1. he give you notice of default and a eviction notice for not keeping the yard up.
In that case you deny it, and he will file formal eviction in court, You appear in court and show proof it is not your duty.

2. he add money for this to monthly rent, and declares you in defaut for failure to pay rent in full. He will add late fee and non payment fees. The then gives you a pay or quit notice and files for eviction in court for non payment.
Again, you appear in court and prove your point

3. He looks and tries to find any other reason to evict you. Too loud music, messy yard, unkept house and so on. He will start enforcing any late payments according to the exact words of the lease