NSW Tenant wants landlord to pay for cleaner of yard.

[Kathy_024]

Hi, we have an investment property, currently tenanted. Developers have bought the adjoining property and have ruined the fence during this process plus building nails and dirt has come over into the property. The tenant has has young children has refused to clean the builder's mess. The builder and certifier don't care, whilst they claim they will clean up nothing has eventuated. In regards to the damaged fence, there is no response and we hold no hope that they will replace or repair. The fence was in excellent condition and only 8 years old. We have contacted the council, no interest, Fair Trading and the Building Commissioner do a lot of huffing and puffing but are also of no value. Both of these departments have no power to bring any action against the builder or certifier.

Now the tenant is demanding that we the owners, pay for this cleaning. Our agent is is adamant that this is our responsibility. Is it? As the tenant is living there, they can quite easily sweep the mess up and wash the concrete down, we feel it is their responsibility. The materials are more a nuisance than a major job. There is no cooperation from these builders. My husband and I are not prepared to give into the tenants request.

Please advise.

 

[Avemalle]

I see it's been a while since this was discussed, but I just wanted to ask—did this get resolved in the end? It sounds like a tricky situation that might come down to what’s actually written in the lease agreement. If the yard maintenance terms aren’t clear, could this be something that needs to be clarified with the landlord for future reference? Curious to hear how it turned out!

 

[Roche1n]

If the lease says yard upkeep is on the tenant, then it's likely their responsibility unless the landlord agreed otherwise in writing. Some landlords might cover basic maintenance, but regular cleaning is usually on the renter. If hiring help is needed, a tenant could look for services like maid service star idaho for indoor cleaning, but yard work typically falls under different services unless specified in the lease.