Gardening in a Rental Property – What you need to know –
As a tenant is it allowed to put up a garden at a place where you are renting? While growing a vegetable garden is exciting, your landlord may not like the whole idea of you altering the landscape. There are other ways to do gardening in a rental property.
Although most state laws don’t ban gardens per se, they state that alterations on the landscape of the property without permission from the landlord are not allowed. This means that if you talk to your landlord, he or she may reconsider. Here’s how to do it:
- Consider compromising for a small flower bed so that the garden will just be in one section. But this location must have plenty of light and water to ensure success.
- Offer to share some of the produce from your garden with the landlord.
- Offer to pay an extra amount on top of the rental fee for the garden if your landlord is very adamant.
- Ask the landlord to create the terms for the garden such as the size, location, layout etc. This should be drafted up and added to your existing contract so that there will be no misunderstandings in future.
If the landlord refuses but you still want to have your garden, there’s one more thing you can do. Simply create a space in the yard where you can grow some potted plants and vegetables. As long as you don’t make any alterations to the home, there should be no problem having a potted garden.
Growing potted plants won’t change the landscape. You can even have hanging plants if there’s no clause in your lease that prohibits growing plants in the property.
Growing vegetables in containers is also a good way to start out. With them you don’t even need a yard; a sunny deck or balcony work fine. With the right combinations, container plants can enhance the property’s curb appeal and make your landlord very happy without too many permanent changes.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
