Q: Do I need to clean up trash and yard debris left behind by previous tenants? That's what my landlord wants me to do.
The yard was covered in snow the day we met with the agent at the house, so we didn't notice these dead plants and fallen branches before signing the lease. I asked the landlord to remove these, and she says "she can't personally remove these, but that I can be charge of the disposal."
A: Generally, the lease's provisions will address this issue. If you were not in possession of the premises when the debris occurred, you are not responsible for the removal of that debris.
A: Take pictures at move in and move out. I recently represented clients who were wrongly charged at move out when the landlord tried to keep security deposit money for things that existed before they moved in. Take pictures, and you should follow up with a letter to the landlord with the picture and keep a copy of it explaining those conditions existed prior to you taking possession.
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