Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2015 · 126 posts · 141 votes
7y
My lease says that if they don't mow, I can hire a mower and bill them for it. I should probably add on a hassle fee for me having to manage that procurement.
If she's required to do it as part of the lease, then tell her she has three options: move, cut the grass or pay someone to cut it. You can also tell her you will be taking care of it, ie hire a company, and she pays for it. The latter will give you move control and make sure it is being done.
Property Manager · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2018 · 179 posts · 92 votes
7y
If it's written in the lease as you say, you should be free and clear. Theresa is right. Present the tenant with those three options and act accordingly. If the tenant says they'll mow and never does, the options narrow down to 2.
Real Estate Agent · Mukilteo, WA · Member since 2018 · 124 posts · 148 votes
7y
Lazy people irritate me. I feel your pain. Just as the others have stated, give her those simple options. Tell her you will give her 24 hours to cut the grass, if she fails to do so, hire someone to do it and bill her. If she doesn't pay the fee then start the eviction process. Notify the city you are working to fix the issue and let them know your plan.
Harper Woods, MI · Member since 2017 · 384 posts · 311 votes
7y
If you pay someone to mow it , bill her as added rent. In which if not paid by the end of the month can accrue late fees. Make sure its in the lease next time and evict as needed in the future.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
7y
Go to home depot and buy a big jug of ground clear . It’s a concentration of potent grass and weed killer ( round up on crack) and is like napalm on the yard. Spray that down liberally and there won’t be one blade of grass left after a few days . That oughta get the city off your back and teach her a valuable lesson in landscaping
Shawnee Mission, KS · Member since 2016 · 716 posts · 313 votes
7y
with rentals cutting grass seems to be a issue ,I always press the issue when renting out a house .call the city on your self then post the paper work on their door .Then hire it out the mowing , raise the rent to cover the mowing when the lease is up and keep the deposit if they refuse to play nice.
How a person keeps the outside is a clue how the inside is kept be on high alert !
The woman in the townhouse I own.... will not cut grass and now township is on my ***
How should I handle this
1) Check your lease. Either it explicitly states the tenant is responsible for cutting the grass, or it does not. If it does not, the landlord is responsible.
2) Even if the lease says the tenant is responsible, the city will fine the owner of the property if the situation is not resolved. It is in your best interest as the property owner to cut the grass before the city fines you.
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
7y
Post a cure or quit notice tomorrow morning . Give her a deadline of 24 hours . Also state that if it isnt cut you will hire a landscaper to cut it for $150.00 and she will be billed as additional rent . If she doesnt pay you will file for eviction . DO NOT cut the grass yourself .
Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
@Charlie Moore
Is she a new tenant? Has she specifically stated she doesn't want to cut the grass? If that's the case, professionally point out the clause in the lease, and as others have said give her options. If she doesn't comply, start the eviction process.
Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
Tell her if the lawn isn't cut by tomorrow you will have someone out there to mow it at her cost because the city is hounding you to get it cut.
Lesson learned. Let tenants handle snow removal if possible, but never lawn maintenance because they are not going to be the ones who get fined if they neglect doing it. You are.
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
7y
First of all, cut the grass immediately. Any time a neighbor or township is notifying you of a problem, it is your job as owner to resolve. Being a good neighbor will make your land lording experience much better..
I would hire someone and bill the tenant. Assuming she never wants to cut the grass, I would just contract mowing and add it to her rent.
Was she aware it was her responsibility to mow the grass? In my city it is customary in twin homes and town homes that lawn care is included in rent. I stated clearly in my listing and my lease what the tenant is responsible for, so there is no surprises.
Urbana, OH · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 8 votes
7y
Does your township have the ability to cite your tenant with a violation? In the municipality that I work for, we often cite tenants or people in control of the property with nuisance violations. Sometimes these end up in our municipal court system with them being charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Real Estate Broker · Windsor, CT · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 268 votes
7y
@Charlie Moore hopefully you have some clause within your lease that spells out that the tenant's responsibility of upkeeping and maintaining the property (including lawn care)
Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 281 posts · 133 votes
7y
@Charlie Moore raise the rent with the next lease and just cut the grass your self it's not worth the hassle. People would rather pay then do something they don't want to do.
Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
7y
The obvious reason that a municipality holds the owner responsible is so they know they will eventually get paid. This is much more prevalent in northern states as I have rarely come across this in Texas