For a good deal of renters, a simple and efficiently managed garden is all they need or desire. If the landscaping is simple enough to manage, property owners can sensibly wait for their tenants to make it look amazing. Owners should clearly explain their expectations about keeping up the yard, and who is responsible for mowing lawns, weeding flower beds or gravel areas, and so on.
Spotting a tenant who is willing to execute all of these things is great. But what will happen if a tenant wants to enact changes that go beyond basic maintenance, most notably those that would require permanently changing the garden and landscaping? Tenants with a green thumb may want to make certain changes, such as adding, moving, or cutting down trees or other plantings, planting a vegetable garden, or even installing a fence, walkway, or patio.
Requiring a tenant to manage a beautiful garden is one thing; doing renovations without license, even if it is charming or masterfully finished, is a different story. Alterations of this manner are in direct violation of most leases. In fact, if a tenant does alter the landscaping, it is their responsibility to put it back to its original condition upon moving out. If they can’t (or won’t), they may be subject to penalties or even eviction proceedings.
As challenging as it may be to comprehend, tenants of Atascocita rental homes may not be able to discern that going beyond the contractual landscaping maintenance responsibilities may violate the terms of their lease. They may even imagine that they are giving the property owner a helping hand by adding something scenic to the garden. Inevitably, property owners must be meticulous in making the distinction between maintenance and major alterations clear and to intimately detail any possible legal action that may emanate.
At Real Property Management Avitus, we include clear statements about yard maintenance and alterations in all of our leases, removing the guesswork from the equation. We also perform regular property evaluations for all of our clients, and can take an appropriate action to have trees and bushes trimmed, lawns edged, or intervene in a resident’s unsanctioned yard improvement plans, if required. If you would like to acquire more knowledge about our property management services in Atascocita, please contact us online or call 281-570-6357 for more info.