Maintenance Guide for Tenants

8. LAWNS AND
GARDENS
What is the tenant’s
responsibility to maintain?
Unless your tenancy agreement says
otherwise, you can safely assume you
(as the tenant) are responsible for
mowing and edging the lawns,
watering, weeding, pruning and
fertilising – all chores which could be
termed ‘garden maintenance.’
As a tenant, you are ultimately
responsible for ensuring the garden is
maintained to the standard set at the
beginning of the tenancy. This will be
detailed in the ingoing and outgoing
inspection report and with
photographs. If the garden is neglected
the landlord reserves the right to
assume control at the tenant’s
expense.
Your landlord will generally be
responsible for things such as providing
hoses and sprinklers, maintaining the
reticulation system, cleaning gutters and
tree lopping.
While a landlord is responsible for
maintaining gutters, tenants have a
responsibility to report any issues such
as blockages or breaks. Maintenance of
gutters is an important aspect of
protecting your building as broken or
blocked gutters can quickly lead to roof
and wall damage.
If the tenant puts trampolines, boats,
or other semi-permanent items on the
lawns or garden beds, they agree to
bear the cost of any lawn or garden
rectification work required.
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