Gardens are just as desirable for tenants looking for a place to rent, as they are for homebuyers. If you have a house to let out with access to a garden, it is likely you are hot property – especially for young families. But as with any feature of rented accommodation, maintenance is required. There are plenty of housing contracts that neglect to even mention whose responsibility upkeep of outdoor spaces is, while other documents will be vague on what is required.

With that in mind, it is important to offer tenants the information they need, as well as the tools and ability to maintain the garden as and when is needed. If you are looking to rent out a new property or are looking for a way to make your property offering that little bit more appealing to renters, check out these tips for managing the garden.

Design a low maintenance garden

The best way to ensure your garden is not ruined by renters is by keeping things simple and low maintenance. Gardens with water features, or a variety of high maintenance plants, and flower arrangements will require a professional to upkeep, and you do not want to be adding to a renter’s costs even before they move in.

A low maintenance design – with a patio and a simple lawn – is the perfect way to offer renters a space to enjoy the outdoors, without requiring a lot of upkeep. Your tenants will be happy, and you will be happy to leave them to it.

Offer complimentary gardening services

If you are renting out a property that already has a large and complex garden design, you might want to consider hiring a professional for the upkeep. This cost can be factored into the cost of rent but will feel like a complimentary bonus for potential renters.

Provide furniture

Properties for rent often come with furnishings and furniture – which is what makes them so appealing for new and younger renters. So, if you offer your property on a furnished basis, furnishing the garden should also be included.

But that does not mean to say invest in expensive pieces that could get damaged during the residency: an affordable outdoor sofa set that is durable and low maintenance would definitely be appreciated by prospective tenants.

Not every outdoor space will be big enough for a sofa however, so a small outdoor table with chairs could also work.

Provide a working lawnmower

Passing over the responsibility of the garden to the tenant is fine, but not providing the equipment to do the job is unfair. Lawnmowers can be quite expensive and not necessarily a cost a tenant can afford – not to mention the fact they may not have room for (or need) a mower in their next property. With this in mind, landlords could provide access to a working lawnmower to help tenants with maintenance.

Although the garden can be easy to forget about when putting a house up to let, it can be a total make or break in a contract for tenants. By providing them with a nice outdoor space to enjoy, you can likely increase rent and gain yourself some great tenants.