My tenant in a house I just bought in Florida does not agree with being asked to garden and mow the grass. She asserts that it is the Landlord's job to pay maintenance for that. What is the usual procedure in Florida in this regard? In Australia, where I also own houses, this is regarded as the tenant's responsibility.

Thanks, Robin Blessing --210.50.40.148

However, you must assign the yard/shrubbery maintenance responsibilities into your lease/agreement or the maintenance is on your back. Plus, even if the tenant agrees to do it but doesn't and you assume some of those yard maintenance duties as a result, then you have effectively relieved the tenant of those duties.

In Australia, tenants may gladly do it, here, what's in the agreement is only words in some situations.

I find that tenants don't know how to use a lawnmower, don't own one and would never pick up a gardening tool, therefore, we do it all so the properties don't "look rented" if you know what I mean.

Happy Gardening! & stateside Landlording! --64.58.217.5

However the landlord is the boss and the lease rules. If your lease says you are doing it then you need to do it till the lease term is up. After that you can put in whatever you want. --65.209.61.114

You need to comply with her existing lease. If she is month to month, get a contract for yard care from a lawn maintenance company and give her 30 days notice that her rent is being raised. That way you can pay for the yard care and she won't have to do it and it won't cost you.

It would be a one in a million tenant who would give even passing care to flower beds. Usually, the lawn is their limit and usually, they do a lousy job of it.

Most of us try to have low maintenance yards so the tenants can't do so much damage. --206.163.168.9