Setting up your Investment Property for renting is a pivotal part of minimising stress, with Lawns and garden maintenance, as well as occasional tree trimming needing to be considered.
It is important to state the differences with lawns and gardens, as opposed to tree trimming. Generally speaking, if it is within reach for the Tenants to trim without the assistance of a ladder, then it is something your Tenant can and should be doing.
Lawn and Garden Maintenance
There are a number of options you can consider so as to minimise the risk of problems occurring, and in turn remove the distraction and potential expense ? These options vary pending on your circumstances:
- Include the lawn and/or garden maintenance in the rent – bypass the Tenants all together, and have a contractor attend to this for them. You will want to consider recovering this cost from the Tenants through the rent price or other methods, while ensuring you are not disadvantaged in chasing away potential Tenants (by possibly being too high in rent price). We recommend considering this option on properties with large gardens and/or lawn areas, or for Tenants who do not have time to attend to it themselves.
- Encourage Tenants to have it done professionally – Have your Property Manager recommend they engage a contractor, and put them in contact with a good one. Your Property Manager can also help by making the Tenants aware the lawns and gardens are a priority for you, which may encourage them to ensure they are looked after.
- Tenant direct responsibility, and setting the expectations – By highlighting to your Tenants about their responsibilities with lawns and gardens, it can often encourage them enough the desired result. Making them aware you will be having this monitored from time to time can also help. This is a task your Property Manager can handle for you, and although it gives you less control over the situation – you can still monitor and act on any issues that arise through your State’s Tenancy laws.
Regardless of which way you decide to go above, you are less likely to run into problems. Even if an issue does eventually occur, the Tenants have been made fully aware and there is a clear way for your Property Manager to deal with the issue.
Tree Trimming
If it is beyond this reach, it would then fall to you as the owner to have it attended to when required. Thankfully tree trimming is usually a job that only needs doing occasionally! You should be able to get advice on how often a trim would be required from a tree trimming company, and then have your Astute arrange it as a recurring job. This way, you have less to think about for your Investment – and more time to spend on other things.
If our Property Management team can provide guidance about managing the lawns and gardens, or other aspects of your Investment Property, we’d love to hear from you. We’re here to help make your life easier with your Investment!