Shared lawn care question - one tenant just moved out.

[Lacee Beitler]

Hi everyone, Lawn care question about a duplex: *note: lawn care and snow removal is in both leases Care was split, tenant A tool care of back and side yard, tenant B took care of front (a hill). Tenant A has lived there for 30 years. This long term tenant started off like a dream, but recently has been very demanding. She is older and lives with her son, and they are now refusing to take care of the front lawn because Tenant B just moved out. They also will not pay for lawn care service to cut it. Lawn care is in both leases, but if one tenant moves out, can we make the current tenant take care of everything? Or do we have to do the other half/cover the cost of a lawn service until a new tenant moves in?

[Mike Wood]

@Lacee Beitler I also agree that it is not right or fair to make the remaining tenant take care of the lawn, given that it is shared.  I am not a fan of having tenants take care of lawn  (and snow removal) for a duplex, as each tenant is affected by the others actions or lack of actions.  

Personally, I would take this opportunity to take over the lawn and snow removal care, and increase the rent to cover the expense of having someone do this.  You might be out a few bucks until the remaining tenants lease expires and you can raise their rent, but it will make things easier in the future.  

Alternatively, you could offer the remaining tenant a discount on their rent to take care of the entire yard and snow removal, but only if you know they will regularly do it.