Garden Clean Ups at the End of a Lease: What Renters Need to Do
By Cleaning Near Me team ·
Short answer: if your lease makes you responsible for the garden, you need to hand it back in roughly the condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, allowing for seasonal changes. That means weeding, mowing and edging, removing rubbish and green waste, and trimming back anything that’s overgrown. An untidy garden is one of the most common reasons for bond deductions.
Who’s responsible for what?
Every lease is different, but typically:
| Usually the renter | Usually the rental provider |
|---|---|
| Mowing and edging | Tree lopping and large tree removal |
| Weeding beds and paths | Major landscaping |
| Watering (within restrictions) | Repairs to fences and retaining walls |
| Removing your rubbish and green waste | Pest infestations not caused by the renter |
Check your lease and your ingoing condition report photos of the garden.
Garden clean-up checklist
- Mow the lawn and edge the paths
- Weed garden beds, paths, paving cracks and gravel
- Prune hedges and shrubs back to their original shape
- Rake leaves and debris
- Remove dead plants and pot plants you added
- Clear vines from fences
- Sweep and wash paths, patios and decks
- Remove all green waste. Don’t leave it piled in a corner or overflowing the green bin.
- Clean out the garage, shed and under the house
Clean up or full strip?
- Clean up: the garden is basically in shape and just needs a tidy. Usually a few hours.
- Garden stripping: beds are overgrown, weeds are knee-high, or an area needs clearing back to soil. More labour, and usually trailer loads of green waste.
Be honest about which one you need when you ask for a quote. Photos help a lot.
Timing
Do the garden before the final clean, so nobody tracks soil and grass through the house afterwards. In Melbourne, spring growth is fast, so a garden tidied in early October may need another mow by the inspection.