One of the biggest frustrations facing both landlords and tenants in the Tamworth region at the moment is the rules regarding lawn maintenance and care during the drought.
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The hurt is being felt on both sides of the equation at the moment, according to Tamworth Real Estate Agents Association chair, and First National principal Margo Taggart.
“It is every landlord's biggest gripe at the moment, and it is frustrating on both sides,” Mrs Taggart said.
“Under the tribunal lawn does come under the category of wear and tear, but as the drought gets worse the tribunal is starting to show more leniency for the tenants.”
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At the same time many tenants have also been left out of pocket after losing their deposit because lawns are diminished or dead, with landlords even chasing the costs of replacement in some cases.
The Leader did speak with several tenants, although with the rental market so tight at the moment none would go on record.
An anonymous tenant said that “it is a real concern, and unfair that tenants stand to lose hundreds of dollars for not keeping grass during a drought where there is no green grass anywhere.”
Another tenant showed The Leader a letter from a Tamworth real estate that stated it was the “tenants responsibility to keep lawns in the same condition as it was when your lease was signed”, regardless of how long ago that was.
Mrs Taggart said it is “a real double edged sword, and that there has to be “some give and take in the rental world.”
“Even if lawns are watered it is hard to keep them looking good at the moment, although they can at least be kept alive by tenants,” she said.
“It is not just the drought either, money is tight at the moment, and watering lawns might be one of the first cuts people make to save some money on water bills.”
All rental properties should be water compliant, meaning they fall in line with a set of standards, including no more than nine litres a minute can come out of cold taps.
If a house is water compliant than it is the landlords choice as to whether the tenant pays the water bill, or the landlord pays the bill and absorbs those costs into the rental price.
“Even if the landlord pays the water bill, the watering is very difficult to police,” Mrs Taggart said.
“Landlords are very frustrated with this issue at the moment.”
