questions & answers

Question: I rent a single-family dwelling & my lease states that the landlord is responsible for all Landscaping in the front & back of the house. Does this mean that she is responsible for the payment of the water for the sprinkler drip system? Currently the only water meter is on my water account that I pay for. Is it legal for her to dictate how much water is used for the bushes and trees outside the house? She does not allow me to adjust the sprinkler system at all & she has her gardener increase the water for her orange tree without my knowledge or consent. Again, the water meter is under my name

Answer: You may wish to contact an attorney in order to determine who should be paying for water used by your landlord for landscaping purposes. There are no general rules that apply in this particular situation, so you will need to discuss the precise language of the rental agreement between you and your landlord as well as the nature of the sprinkler system and its relationship to the water supply to your house. There are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website.