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yard upkeep (Real Estate & Property Law)

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:36:00 GMT

What is the name of your state? Oregon
I'm posting here because I'm torn about the best/most professional way to confront my landlord. For a snapshot of my situation, we initially signed a 6 month lease, then renewed/resigned for a 1 year lease on a single family home. We are now in the 5th month of our current year's lease.
Our first lease listed the landlord as responsible for yard upkeep. It began to get fairly tall, providing an optimal spider-breedingground, so when my finace's father offered to mow our lawn, we accepted. At that point, the landlord offered to reimburse us monetarily for ongoing yard upkeep, which we also accepted. Upon renewing the lease, the landlord decided to lower the monthly rent upon the condition that we maintain the yard, we agreed [all in writing]. We've now been in this home for 11+ months, and we received a letter from our landlord yesterday strongly 'suggesting' that we allow the grass to grow taller, "to allow the white flowers and moss to grow back." We've had discussions with her in the past regarding our concerns about spiders [which she, and I quote, "loves"], as well as the fact that our volunteer mower is retired from a 20+ year career of grounds maintenance [school district]. In those conversations, she reported that she understood us not wanting to look our mowing gift-horse in the mouth, as well as our spider concerns.
Now that she has suddenly decided to push this issue, are we within our rights to stand our short-grassed ground? I am planning to write a letter re-addressing our concerns, including offering a lease re-negotiation stating that if she wants the yard done in such a particular way, we would be willing to revert back to the original plan of her taking responsibility for the yard upkeep while we would pay the extra rent, but before writing I would like to know whether or not grass length [when cut bimonthly] is an issue that could put us on the wrong side of good tenant/landlord relations. I agree that a conversation with her is the logical first step, but since past conversations seem unsuccessful, and I am now trying to get every issue on paper.
Thoughts?

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  • Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:38:00 GMT(1)
  • Any amendments to the lease ( if you and your LL agree ) , get in in writing , dated and signed .
    That's how it's generally done anyway .
  • Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:59:00 GMT(2)
  • check with your town to see if they have any requirements on how long the lawn should be before being cut. I own a rental home in one down where if the grass grows over 3inch I will get a $50 fine each day till it is cut.
  • Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:06:00 GMT(3)
  • Yes, the LL has the right to decide how the lawn and landscape is cared for, but it should be REASONABLE! The grass should be cut at a level not to damage the lawn, whereas, if you cut the grass too low it will damage the lawn and kill the grass. Good luck, sounds like the LL needs to take care of the yard...thats one of the reasons I rent an apartment, I don't want to take care of grounds.
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