Question

Hi everyone, so I have a huge decked area in my garden, we are about to rent the house out for a few years so wont really have any control over the tenants treating it etc, what's the best method & products to treat it etc. To last for say 5 years?  

Answer 1

Nothing saying you cant pre arrange for maintenance to be carried out once a year? Maybe write it into the rental contract?  

Comments

@linseed that’s the best option imo

Answer 2

Also all the pics a bit much lol, decking is decking  

Comments

Thanks for the helpful comment @rattish  

---

@biddy why thank you. but this is t my post  

Answer 3

Well the tenants have to leave the property in the same condition they found it, fair wear and tear excepted. That said, you need to make it easy for them to do so. Don’t have experience of decking, but I was a letting agent for many years. Get it in good condition to start and then leave them instructions for maintenance. Repairs though will be your responsibility, as with a fence. If necessary, Aim to share the annual responsibility would be my advice , but cleaning responsibility etc would be theirs.  

Answer 4

Personally I would draw attention to the contract. I use ronseal on mine and buy it from wicks, I'd strongly draw up a clause that tenant doesn't paint the decking too x

Comments

@reynaldoreynard ahh ok thankyou, I didnt know we could do that. Thankyou very much x

Answer 5

I used to let apartments and a few houses with my Gdad before he passed and we charged ground fees. They include guttering jobs that u will need to do to keep the roof and brick work secure etc and then a guy who will come and treat the woodwork etc and any other jobs. That way u can keep it in good condition if not rate usually cause damage at weaker points and nest under there x

Answer 6

The tenants will be renting the House not the garden, get a gardener - and you will have to pay for maintenance of the decking, it will go slimy green & pest control when the little  move in.  

Comments

@cuff Parker urm, no the tenant will be using the garden and therefore responsible for the garden as well as the house

---

@cuff Parker as a tenant. I rent the property, garden included.  

---

The garden comes with the house just like the driveway does so its thier responsibility  

Answer 7

It depends on what deal you have, we maintained our garden but was provided with equipment to do so

Answer 8

Depends on your clauses in your contract. They will not care for it like you, you should expect wear and tear. If you love it that much I would provide treatment yourself. You will be charging a lot if rent so it is reasonable to assume you bear the cost of maintenance. As a landlord it is not your home, it is a house, 5 yrs is a long time.  

Comments

@iso it is my home though, we are moving away to care for my elderly grandparents, we have every intention of coming back  we never intended to leave xx

Answer 9

Depends on your tenant. we’re tenants and love our garden and with the permission of the landlord have filled it with plants and maintained it including cleaning and doing the decking. let’s hope you get responsibly tenants

Answer 10

To be fair a house of that size and cost to rent you’ll probably get decent tenants and will probably look after it if you speak with them x

Answer 11

Thankyou most of you, what is the best thing to treat it with before we leave? What should I wash it with? Sorry, I've never had a garden before so I'm a complete novice!  

Answer 12

Ronseal is apparently very good. But as the landlord you will be responsible for the repairs. So I would imagine that will include the decking to save yourself hefty repairs at the end of the tenancy. I know the damage tenants can cause. Make sure you do property checks regularly

Comments

@recently oh I definately will. Thankyou xx Can we just clean it with washing up liquid and a scrubbing brush or is there something better? X

Answer 13

Get a managing agent to do all the tenant checks etc. They will change an amount out of the rent but it covers you under the rent deposit scheme and will do financial checks etc they are the contact for the renters too. You will need to have gas safety checks and the boiler serviced annually and as part of this pay a gardener:handyman to come in and do a garden tidyup and treat decking and paths. Also check you get landlord insurance for the property and makes sure your managing agent gets your tenants to have the correct insurance It’s important to make sure you go into this with all the correct things in place for your piece of mind and the protection of your home

Comments

@robbi92055 ahh ok, so I can pay someone to go in and maintain, that's very good to know. Thankyou

---

@werbel Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes are a legal requirement for assured Tenancies. Also if the property has a mortgage on it you legally have to tell the mortgage company, I’m sure you already have as you seem organised, but in case it slipped your mind xx

---

@robbi92055 thankyou :) yes I'm in talks for a consent to let, but my mortgage is actually up for renewal in june so itll time quite nicely to swap to B2L :) xx

Answer 14

I would plan on having someone come and treat it - you know that way it will be done properly - for the rest of the garden - stipulate the basic maintenance including regular summer lawn cuts - be specific

Answer 15

Put something in the tenancy agreement that they have to look after it and treat it every year. vote you could put that you will come and treat it yearly

Answer 16

I would stipulate that once a year/ every other someone will come and treat it. You'd need to give them notice but that would be best.  

Answer 17

I don’t know about which products, we have just ripped our decking up, whatever we used wasn’t good  But I think easiest thing is just put it in their contract that once a year or whatever it is they do it or you pay somebody to come in and do it. Much less hassle for everybody