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So I just recently was approved for a 2-year lease of a new property.
Now it was definitely "lived-in" by the prior occupants. The wood flooring (original from 1966) is scratched and dirty. As are the wood cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. The tile in the kitchen is actually so dirty I thought it was an odd dark grey outside-style textured tile when in fact it's actually a pleasant reddish hue when clean. The walls are also pretty dirty and scuffed.
No big deal though. Some wood cleaner and polish (they're not made with urethane) and the floors will be fine, and I can take a scotch-bright to any wall and make it look good as new. All of this discussed with the current LL of course, we agreed that my willingness to clean (I actually like cleaning, I consider it almost therapeutic...) would mean the property is mine quicker. Any expenses incurred would be reimbursed if needed, but that's not a big concern of mine honestly.
My real question is the yard.
The backyard is fine, but the front needs some definite TLC.
The grass is loaded with weeds and has large dead field of nothing but cement hard dirt. The other decorative areas are also just dirt and weeds, any semblance of life existing there long since extinguished.
What I would like to do would be to first fix the grass. Essentially dig up the weeds, aerate the lawn, put down top soil in the dead zones, and then re-seed the whole thing. As for the decorative areas (specifically the area directly in front of the house extending out about 2 feet, and a small partition formed by the walkway that goes from the driveway to the front door) I would like to simply dig up the weeds, lay down a weed blocking mat, and then cover it with some bark - simple, clean, effective, non-offensive, and cheap.
Before I bring it up to my new LL however I wanted your opinions. Would you let a tenant do anything like this on one of your properties? If you did, what requirements would have prior to them doing anything? Or anything in particular you would want in return from your tenant before they started?
Please take pictures of everything before you touch it. All the dirty rooms walls etc, everything. Outside, any and all damage. Every inch of the place if you have to with a dated newspaper.
And yes, ask about the yard and get the okay in writing if possible.
I moved into a dated rental like yours. The landlord was going to replace the worn /slightly stained and small tears laminate vinyl floors with carpet but I said I rather have the laminate. (Despise all carpets) I took pictures. Thank goodness as the very nice and affable landlord turned into someone different with the return of the security deposit despite leaving it spotless (a lot better than move in), giving notice at leases end and never late on rent. Tried to say I stained/tore the floors. When I produced the dated photos, he suddenly remembered they like that the whole time. Got my deposit back.
OP, you have to talk to your landlord. What I allow my tenants to do to the yard has no effect on the yard you are living in because you aren't renting from me.
With my tenants,we go over what they can do to the yard, where they can put their veggie garden, where they can plant their flowers. They must water and mow the lawn and they are not allowed to trim trees or bushes.
Over the decades, I've had exactly two tenants who maintained a good looking yard. The rest of them have started gardens that died when they got a few inches tall. So until a tenant proves over time that he can maintain landscaping, he isn't allow to change anything or plant anything permanent. I don't want the lawn dug up to be replaced by dead tomato plants.
It sounds like your yard is beyond the point where it could be damaged any further. I would guess that your landlord would be happy to have you fix it up at your own expense, but I can't give you permission to try. You have to talk to your own landlord about it.
I'd love a tenant who cares enough to want to do this work. I'd want to have conversation about exactly what they were talking (to make sure it didn't violate any city codes or anything), but I'd probably let them do all of what you are saying, if they wanted to do it at their expense. If it were one of our own properties, we'd probably even chip in for some materials. Some of the owners we manage for, wouldn't pay for any of it, but most would allow the work.
My landlord encouraged me to plant perennials and to trim trees as needed, but "don't butcher em", lol. Hubby used to trim trees for Asplundh, (LL knew this since LL and FIL are buddies), so no biggie there, and all the flowers in the front of the house are either shade loving perennials like hostas, hellebore, loves lies bleeding, and monkshood; or they are bulbs like crocus, daffodils, lilies, hyacinth, and tulips.
As for the back yard garden, he doesn't care one whit as long as he gets fresh maters and cukes when they are ready, and when we move the grass is back like it was when we got there.
We have also planted thornless raspberries and blackberries on the fence, which he loves as well. He just asked us not to plant knockout roses (cause of the infection issues with them), or big bushes, unless we ask first. He was fine with the lilac bush by our bedroom window, and oked it in a heartbeat.
He actually said when we move he will deduct the cost of the plants from any damages we caused, and if we get our full deposit back, he will ass on at least another 50-100 bucks for the plants.
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