Real Estate Investor · Kansas CIty, MO · Member since 2009 · 93 posts · 8 votes
I am open to the idea since I am owner occupying a duplex and I myself will be having a vegetable garden in the back yard. Any pitfalls I should be aware of?
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
16y
What are they telling you they will be growing? If it is not permitted vegetation (think illegal), who will get/take the credit/blame? How would you know that a little sprout isn't going to be something you'll dread?
Real Estate Investor · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2009 · 5 posts · 0 votes
16y
I had a tenant in my trailer park that tried to grow mary jane along with veggies. I had to bring out someone that knew more than me to even identify it. Needless to say they are not tenants anymore
Real Estate Investor · OH · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
16y
I would let them plant a garden - although they probably won't do so. I also have given probably 200 tenants permission to plant flowers and I'd guess that 3 have actually done so. LOL! It's just all part of the scam!
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
16y
I see no reason not to let someone plant a garden. As long as they maintain it and don't let it overrun the property, it can only add to the goodwill. As Mike said, who knows if they will do it, though.
Of course, if it turns out that they are growing illegal plants, that's another issue altogether.
At LEAST 5 times more gardens get planted than harvested. just a bare fact of life,,,they find out its harder to maintain a garden than they thought. most end up as weed patches.
Real Estate Investor · Elkhorn, WI · Member since 2008 · 453 posts · 104 votes
16y
I'm finding out that when they want to do something to the outside (garden, plant flowers, etc), they never wind up actually doing it. So I just say "go ahead".
I've almost never had a tenant actually plant anything. A few have, and 1-2 even carried through and took care of what they planted.
But if they ask, tell them that it's fine with you, but show them exactly where they can plant the garden, or they might dig up a big patch of your lawn before they lose interest in their project.
Developer · Santa Clarita, CA · Member since 2008 · 15k+ posts · 10k+ votes
16y
Other than the planting of illegal crops, the only potential pitfall could be an insect issue. If you allow it, I would suggest you have them sign off that they are 100% responsible for any insect invasions on the property and must use a licensed pest control company to eliminate the problem (upon occurance) or have a service for prevention that the tenant pays for.
Investor · Bellefonte, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 88 votes
16y
I let them, I ask them to stake out where they want to put the garden and take a picture of it then I let them do it. Some of my tenants have made some really nice gardens. I usually don't let them make one over 10-15 square feet at first. If they can take care of that one and it doesn't turn into a weed garden then I'll let them expand it. I've never had anyone ask to expand it though.
It usually makes happier tenants from what I have seen. Makes them feel more at home.