If you’re renting with a garden, there’s a few things you should know.
Firstly, that there’s many perks; growing fresh ingredients for meals, making your home inviting, cutting down on the grocery bill or having an excuse for some sun and stress-relief.
But for some tenants, it can also be just as easy to turn a blind eye to an overgrown lawn or weed-infested patch, with keeping it ‘green’ last on the to-do list.
So when it comes to gardening, whose responsibility is it?
In NSW, it’s the responsibility of the tenant to maintain the property by rectifying any damage caused during the tenancy, and that includes outside. This could be anything from refilling holes dug by animals in a garden bed to tyre marks on the lawn.
An important thing for guests to know, as any damage can be charged to the tenant.
For tenants living in a strata or body corporate complex, common areas cannot be used to plant or maintain personal gardens or veggie patches.
So if you’re a green-thumbed dweller, we recommend planting your goods in pots or polystyrene boxes to get your hands in the soil – this way, they can go with you should you move.
When vacating a property
Moving out of a property can definitely be a headache in terms of cleaning. But without doing a proper job, it can seriously delay the bond refund process. So it’s important to know that tenants are required to mow the lawns, arrange for gutters to be cleaned and to ensure that grounds and gardens are left tidy – without weeds or built-up leaves.
To ensure you get your bond back quickly, here’s our list of tradespeople that we trust (and recommend to use for their rates).
While you’re here, try our 5 TOP WATER-SAVING TIPS this dry Aussie summer.
- Close taps completely without forcing them, as this can cause damage or leaking.
- Swap to water-efficient heads wherever possible.
- Waiting for the shower to warm up? Place a bucket to collect water that can be thrown on the garden later.
- Don’t assume your garden needs watering everyday – check the soil first.
- A good soaking of the garden once or twice per week is better than watering everyday.
More info?
For a complimentary copy of our Tenant’s Handbook and for lots of helpful information, advice and tips, send an email to handbook@prudential.com.au.
