Tenant snow shoveling?

I have a tenant who has exclusive use of the stoop and separate entry through the parlor level (I live on the garden level). I shovel the stairs after every snow. There are times when it’s difficult for me to get to it early enough in the morning. There is no specific language in the lease around snow removal. Liability issues aside, what do people usually do about snow shoveling? Do you leave it to your tenant to shovel, even if only sometimes, or do you make it 100% your responsibility as the landlord? Thanks

mousta

in Roofers 10 years and 5 months ago

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dorkofwindsor | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Aside from liability? Thats the only reason many shovel at all. Even if you leave it to the tenant in the lease, i’d like to see a jury agree that it is ultimately not your responsibility when a third party makes a claim. (hint: they’d come after you anyway since you own the prized a$$et.) Aside from that, if you want them to do it, tenants tend to be (generally) the least conscientious shovelers anyway. So if you don’t care how well the job is done – or more importantly when it gets done – then I’d add it, knowing you may still have to check it and possibly send passive aggressive emails. Some people would be ok with that, but the perfectionist would definitely not. Those people would be noticing that the tenant went to brunch or out for cocktails but didn’t have time to shovel yet. Different strokes as they say.

mousta | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Thanks. All very true re: my liability. And I did neglect to put it in the rider (a mistake that I won’t be repeating). I certainly don’t mind doing it most times since I already have to take care of the sidewalk/my walkway, but I can’t always get to it before they leave in the morning. And yes, it would be great if it was seen as a shared responsibility where everyone pitched in. My neighbors tend to shove each others’ sidewalks depending on who gets out there first. It all evens out in the end. In the end I should view it as a business relationship where boundaries should be clearly defined. But it is also a situation where there are only two families living in the building so it is a bit more intimate than a simple business deal.

resident2 | 10 years and 5 months ago

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If you want the tenant to do it, it is best to spell it out in the lease rider upfront, along with all your other house rules. It is also a a good conversation to have while screening…. weed out the “that’s your jobbers….” It seems long gone are the days when everyone just mucked in to get the job done. And as it is you the property owner that gets the summons, the liability if someone slips etc even with a rider in the lease asking the tenant to take responsibility, you the owner are ultimately responsible to get it done.

Arkady | 10 years and 5 months ago

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I add a rider to my lease that tenants are responsible for compliance w/ NYC rubbish & recycling laws & for the entrances to their apartments.