Am I legally allowed to tell my tenant that they cannot garden or have an inflatable pool, as I pay for the water?

Lexi, Chatbot

I understand you're looking to make changes to your property. Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? 

Infolawyer

You can generally impose rules on your tenants regarding what they can and can’t do on the property, including prohibiting gardening or setting up an inflatable pool, especially if these activities could potentially affect the property or water usage.

Since you are paying for the water, it makes sense to set expectations in the lease agreement about water usage and activities that might lead to extra costs or damage. However, any restrictions you impose should be clear in the lease terms and must not violate tenant rights or local laws. Make sure your rules are reasonable and enforceable to avoid legal issues.

Does your lease agreement currently cover these types of restrictions, or are you looking to make a change?

Infolawyer

Since you’re creating a new lease, you have the opportunity to clearly outline any rules about what tenants can or cannot do, such as gardening or using inflatable pools.

These rules can absolutely be included, as long as they’re reasonable and enforceable. It's important to balance your right to manage the property with the tenant’s right to enjoy it. As long as your lease doesn’t overstep legal boundaries or infringe on tenant rights, you're well within your rights to include such clauses.

If you're covering the water bill, you should definitely specify who pays and what activities might result in higher usage. You might even add that if the tenant wants to engage in water-heavy activities, they must cover the extra cost.

Just make sure your terms are clear and in line with local laws. That way, everyone is on the same page and you can avoid potential disputes.

Infolawyer

You're very welcome! I'm happy I could help!