Rental Property Investor · Owatonna, MN · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 12 votes
I want to split legal responsibility for Mowing and snow removal between my two duplex tenants in their lease's.
I'm looking for the exact language I can add into my lease's for the future. Does anyone know of the right words or have experience doing this for their Duplexes?
@Matthew Kern I had an up/down duplex and one of the tenants was responsible for all the yard and snow. He received a monthly discount on rent to take care of this. If it is a side-by-side, you could split the yard in half.
Also keep in mind as the owner it is your legal responsibility to make sure it is mowed and snow is removed. You can put whatever you want in your lease, but if the grass is too long, the city will fine you, not the tenant.
I've got a duplex in Michigan and I just have the lower tenant do it. In the lease, it also states that they understand that now all liability lays on them, and that they will coordinate shoveling/salting/lawn maintenance if they cannot keep up with it within the city's requirements.
I've got a duplex in Michigan and I just have the lower tenant do it. In the lease, it also states that they understand that now all liability lays on them, and that they will coordinate shoveling/salting/lawn maintenance if they cannot keep up with it within the city's requirements.
That is an option I'm considering. Does your lower tenant feel cheated that they have the responsibility though?
I've got a duplex in Michigan and I just have the lower tenant do it. In the lease, it also states that they understand that now all liability lays on them, and that they will coordinate shoveling/salting/lawn maintenance if they cannot keep up with it within the city's requirements.
That is an option I'm considering. Does your lower tenant feel cheated that they have the responsibility though?
Why would they? Their rent rate is in line with their responsibilities. They basically get cheaper rent (per sf) than the upstairs because they are doing the work and taking the liability off of me. I figure lawn and snow would cost about $800/yr so I charge about $70/m in rent less than would if I included it.
I've got a duplex in Michigan and I just have the lower tenant do it. In the lease, it also states that they understand that now all liability lays on them, and that they will coordinate shoveling/salting/lawn maintenance if they cannot keep up with it within the city's requirements.
That is an option I'm considering. Does your lower tenant feel cheated that they have the responsibility though?
Why would they? Their rent rate is in line with their responsibilities. They basically get cheaper rent (per sf) than the upstairs because they are doing the work and taking the liability off of me. I figure lawn and snow would cost about $800/yr so I charge about $70/m in rent less than would if I included it.
@Matthew Kern I had an up/down duplex and one of the tenants was responsible for all the yard and snow. He received a monthly discount on rent to take care of this. If it is a side-by-side, you could split the yard in half.
Also keep in mind as the owner it is your legal responsibility to make sure it is mowed and snow is removed. You can put whatever you want in your lease, but if the grass is too long, the city will fine you, not the tenant.