What is a yard maintenance addendum?
"The tenant looks after the garden" is one of the vaguest lines in a lease. Does that include gutters? Pruning a tree? Clearing ice from the steps at 7 am? A yard maintenance addendum lists each job and puts a name next to it.
For each of seven outdoor tasks, you choose whether the tenant, the landlord, a paid gardener or a contractor handles it. You can describe the standard expected, list the mower, hose or snow shovel provided and choose who pays for supplies. Tenants aren't asked to climb high ladders, use specialist tools or apply licensed chemicals. If the tenant falls behind, a written reminder comes first, then the landlord can arrange the work at the tenant's cost.
- Best for
- Houses and ground-floor units with lawns, beds or driveways
- Signed by
- Landlord and tenant, initialled on every page
- Tasks covered
- Mowing, watering, weeding, leaves, snow and ice, gutters, trees
- Length
- 2 pages
When to use a yard maintenance addendum
- A family home where the tenant mows but the landlord handles trees
- A rental in a snowy area with a long driveway
- A property with an irrigation system the tenant mustn't switch off
- Leaving a mower and tools at the property for the tenant to use
- Sorting out a dispute about an overgrown back garden
What you fill in
17 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: landlord, tenant.
1 The lease
- Date of this addendum*
- Landlord or managing agent*
- Tenant name(s)*
- Address of the rented property*
- Date of the lease*
- Outdoor areas covered*
2 Duties
- Mowing and edging* the Tenant · the Landlord · the Landlord's gardener, paid by the Landlord · the Landlord's gardener, with the cost recharged to the Tenant · not applicable
- Watering lawns and plants* the Tenant · the Landlord · an automatic sprinkler system kept by the Landlord, which the Tenant will not switch off · not applicable
- Weeding beds and pruning shrubs* the Tenant · the Landlord · the Landlord's gardener, paid by the Landlord · not applicable
- Raking leaves and clearing garden waste* the Tenant · the Landlord · the Landlord's gardener, paid by the Landlord · not applicable
- Clearing snow and ice from paths and driveway* the Tenant · the Landlord · a snow removal contractor paid by the Landlord · not applicable
- Cleaning gutters* the Landlord · the Tenant, for single-storey gutters reachable without a ladder over 2 metres · not applicable
- Trees, hedges over head height and anything needing a professional* the Landlord · not applicable
- Standard expected (optional)
3 Equipment and costs
- Equipment provided by the landlord (optional)
- Who pays for supplies* The Tenant pays for everyday supplies such as fuel, string, bags and salt. The Landlord pays for plants, turf, mulch and repairs to fixed features. · The Landlord pays for all supplies, plants and repairs.
- Days to catch up after a written reminder*
4 Who signs
- Landlord signature and date, initials on every page · The landlord or the managing agent who signs leases for the landlord.
- Tenant signature and date, initials on every page · The tenant. If several tenants are on the lease, name them all above and have each one sign.
What the yard maintenance addendum covers
- Who does what
- Snow and ice
- Equipment and costs
- Changes and problems
- If duties are not done
- General
Using the yard maintenance addendum, step by step
1 Describe the yard
Enter the landlord, tenant, property and lease date, and list the outdoor areas the addendum covers.
2 Assign each task
Pick who handles mowing, watering, weeding, leaves, snow and ice, gutters and trees. Add the standard you expect if you like.
3 Equipment and supplies
List any equipment you provide and choose who pays for fuel, bags, salt, plants and repairs.
4 Set the catch-up period and send
Choose how many days the tenant has after a reminder, then send it for initials and signatures.
Tips before you send it
- Take dated photos of the yard at move-in and store them with the lease, so "the condition at the start" is clear.
- Check local snow-clearing rules for public sidewalks. They often fall on the owner whatever the lease says.
- Service the mower before handing it over, and leave the manual with it.
- Agree seasonal expectations in the standard field, such as how short to keep the grass in summer.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Yard maintenance addendum: frequently asked questions
Can I make the tenant clean the gutters?
Only single-storey gutters reachable without a ladder over two metres, if you choose that option. Otherwise gutters stay with the landlord, as does tree work and anything needing a professional.
What happens if the yard is neglected?
The landlord sends a written reminder. If the work still isn't done within the number of days you set, the landlord can arrange it after giving proper notice of entry and ask the tenant to pay the reasonable cost as the lease allows.
Can the tenant plant a vegetable bed?
Not without the landlord's written consent. The addendum asks for consent before digging new beds, removing plants, adding structures or changing irrigation.
Can I e-sign a yard maintenance addendum?
Yes. It is an ordinary lease addendum, and e-signatures are recognised for documents like it in the US, UK, EU and Canada. Each page's initials and the final signatures are captured in FileIt's audit trail.