https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:23:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-900003 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 21:15:18 +0000 LovelyPlum 900003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: one more question: do you plan on the rent reflecting the fact that you're asking them to do the yardwork? We offered in our current place to rake and shovel snow, so for six months out of the year, we get $30 a month off of the rent. We were willing to do it anyways, but that was a nice incentive to really do it well, because we both benefited from the arrangement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-899985 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 21:10:00 +0000 LovelyPlum 899985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: that's fair. I only bring it up because if a landlord asked me to do that, I think I would ask if I could put a few planters out there to grow some veggies/herbs. I totally hear you on not wanting it to be overgrown, but it may be wise to anticipate the question, because the people who will be ok with maintaining the flowers will likely have an interest in some sort of gardening themselves. If you specified potted plants (if asked-I don't think you have to do it up front), and asked that they be kept mostly off of the grass (so as not to kill it), I don't think that would be horrible. Especially because they'd be leaving with the tenants eventually.</p> <p>Sorry, I hope this was helpful, not overbearing. I realize that landlords are trying not to get screwed over. But as late 20 somes who are likely renting for the forseeable future, it's nice to be able to make a space your own (within reason, of course). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898876 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:51:42 +0000 avivoca 898876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a renter, I always replaced the light bulbs, but never the A/C filter. We always lived in managed complexes, so that part was taken care of routinely. In our lease, it stated that they would change the light bulbs, but it was easier to do it ourselves and we didn't have to wait for maintenance to show up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898862 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:47:10 +0000 lindseykaye 898862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have been renters for years (but only for two more weeks wooooo) and it has always been our responsibility to purchase and replace light bulbs ourselves.<br /> It has also always been our responsibility to purchase and replace AC filters ourselves - though I will say that it is FAR more likely that this will actually get done if you purchase them for your tenant. I would also definitely take @kjpugs advice and explicitly state that problems caused by neglecting to change the filters are their responsibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898768 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:16:29 +0000 Honeybee 898768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live a couple states away from our property and renters are expected to buy/replace lightbulbs as needed. We don't have an AC or a private backyard (condo), but I would include maintenance of both in your rental agreement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898753 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:12:04 +0000 swurlygurl 898753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never rented, but I would think the tenants should replace light bulbs. They're cheap, and go out based on how much they use them. If they leave their lights on ALL the time, it wouldn't be fair to you to have to replace them.</p> <p>For AC filters, I think you should should definitely send them filters to use. I think that would fall under owner's responsibility </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898699 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:57:29 +0000 deactivated_account 898699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the renters should absolutely replace the lightbulbs if they want the lighbulb replaced. You should not be required to go in there and change a lightbulb for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898649 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:47:28 +0000 Anagram 898649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I guess I don't care if they plant in the back, but only in the planters/in the beds....but I would want it done in a way that looks "pretty" and that's hard to specify, right? I mean, how do I say, don't plant in every available space and then let it get overgrown so it's all "too much", you know? It's so subjective. I prefer for it to be a zen-like space...lol. But that's not really explainable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898640 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:45:44 +0000 Anagram 898640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: good to know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898637 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:45:06 +0000 Anagram 898637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: good questions about the lightbulbs. There's a small stepladder there that works for all the bulbs except the light in the stairwell. That would have to be replaced by a professional because it's two stories high there--a regular ladder wouldn't even reach it.</p> <p>I don't care if they let that one go (there's another light at the top of the stairs that's regular height, so the stairwell is lit)...I just don't want them calling me every month asking for lightbulbs or something. Since I can't send them easily from here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898630 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:43:09 +0000 yoursilverlining 898630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only live about 20 minutes from our rental property, but I wrote it into the lease that the tenant is responsible for light bulbs. I would do the same with A/C filters (we live in New England, so no A/C!)</p> <p>I also drafted language regarding the maintenance of the outside space (basically spelled out what they were responsible for, it's a condo so some spaces are shared responsibility), but that was more due to snow removal needs than gardening type needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898627 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:42:38 +0000 Dandelion 898627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rent, and in our lease, we have to replace bulbs, maintain the yard and change the air filters ourselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898621 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:40:52 +0000 Boheme 898621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a clause that they maintain the home to keep it in the state it was in when the lease began... So if they trash the inside, it comes out of the deposit. Trash the yard? Comes out of the deposit. They are responsible for their own AC filters and light bulbs. DH sends them a reminder about the AC filters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898618 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:40:41 +0000 LovelyPlum 898618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rent, and I have agreed to maintain a yard before. Our trouble came when the landlord expected us to get the space into a condition where it could be maintained-he promised to do the initial work but never did. It was awful! Question-would you allow them to plant? I ask because if a landlord wanted me to maintain a yard, I would-but I would want to put in some herbs, or a tomato plant. You could stipulate where, or only in planters, but it might help the tenants to be.invested</p> <p>Also, with the lightbulbs, do you expect them to have a ladder? We always replace bulbs, unless we can't reach them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898608 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:37:32 +0000 Anagram 898608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: Good idea about writing something in about them being responsible for AC unit damage if they don't change filters. I'm so worried they wont change them, I'm probably just going to send them some on amazon. Plus, the size of my filters are really strange and hard to find in stores. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898589 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:32:40 +0000 Anagram 898589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's the backyard before the Flowers/plants were killed. Well, the Rose bushes are still there because they are years old, but the smaller plants are already dead. BUT they've at least kept the wood chip beds weeded (we put down that black tarp stuff, but weeds still get through).</p> <p>Should I write something in about maintaining this space? </p> [attach=2976/13/mp9q2h.600x359.backyard.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898573 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:28:50 +0000 kjpugs 898573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rent, and we've been an out of state landlord before, and in both cases the renter takes care of bulbs and filters. Make sure in your agreement you mention that neglecting to change the filter, if that is shown as the cause to any issues, would then make the issues their responsibility to pay for. If that worries, you, sending them new filters via amazon isn't a bad idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/landlord-bees-that-live-out-of-statefar-away-s#post-898560 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:25:58 +0000 Anagram 898560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know several people here rent houses. If you live far away/out of state:</p> <p>-do you expect the renters to buy/replace light bulbs?<br /> -do you expect renters to buy/replace AC filters?</p> <p>I ask because I'm getting a new renter and am taking this opportunity to make some tweaks to my rental agreements. I want to write something in about light bulbs/AC filters but I don't really know what's fair. If I lived nearby, I would have no problem replacing these myself, but the house is in Texas and I live in norther NJ.</p> <p>AC filters I could easily just send some in the correct size via my amazon account and write in the rental agreement that they put in new ones every 3 months. They are pretty responsible so far and I think they'll do it. Light bulbs are a little harder---I have so many different types of fixtures around the house and bulbs are inexpensive--I really just want them to do it themselves. They haven't asked so far (I left behind maybe 5-6 bulbs when I moved), but I feel like it might come up in the future.</p> <p>Also, do you have anything written in your lease agreement about backyard maintenance? Before I moved out, I replaced my backyard grass (a very tiny backyard, since it's a townhouse)<br /> with a cute, low-maintenance design with mostly river pebbles and pavers, but with woodchips beds around the edges and some plants. When I went back to Texas, the plants were all dead, but at least the renters had kept it weeded.</p> <p>Do I write something in about keeping it neat and tidy, should I be more specific, or do I leave it blank (as in, that's just the cost of renting a house--your backyard might go to sh*t)?</p> <p>Advice please!!! </p>