How to garden when you rent: A guide for tenants and landlords
Renting rather than owning your home shouldn’t be a barrier to gardening. Discover ideas and inspiration as well as practical considerations to take into account before you green-up your space
According to a study by the Office for National Statistics, one in five households in England and Wales rent their homes with the most common age for private renters being 25 to 34 years old. The interest in gardening, particularly among young people, is also on the rise according to a study of 2,000 Brits conducted by M&S insurance – who cited social media and the popularity of green-fingered instagram accounts as inspiration.
We all need plants more than ever, for both us and the planet. If it means starting your gardening journey while being a renter – so be it!
This lush scene is growing entirely in pots. Sheltered city gardens can allow gardeners to easily grow tender plants.
Container growing allows you to have fun and break the rules by growing all sorts of different plants alongside each other.
Just like anyone faced with a new garden it’s important to assess the space. What is the aspect? Are you overlooked? Do you have borders? If so, what is the soil like? It’s a good idea to keep a diary, noting down when and where the sun falls. Measure your garden and draw up a plan. When you know where plants will go you can chose the right plant for the conditions. If you are short on space, try growing upwards with climbers – remember you need permission from the property owner to attach anything to a wall or fence, but plants can just as easily scramble up canes or obelisks.
If you have a paved courtyard-style garden you will be growing entirely in containers, which means bringing in pots and compost, as well as plants. Do you have access to the garden other than through the house? This is especially relevant for when it comes to leaving the property. A sapling is easy to get through a door – several years later a mature tree is a much different prospect.
RHS guides to help you make a garden
- Growing in containers
- Tips from the Money Saving Gardener
- Make the most of your urban garden
- Growing crops in pots
Wildlife doesn’t care who owns your garden, as long as you provide food and habitats
Things to consider as a tenant
- Make sure you are aware of what your duties are in regards to garden maintenance. It is usual for tenants to be responsible for watering during dry spells, mowing the lawn, cutting back overgrowing shrubs and keeping on top of weeding.
- Report issues as and when they happen rather than try to fix them yourself.
- Remember that you are obliged to return the garden back to the same condition. Make sure you ask permission before making any alterations or you may be responsible for paying them to be removed or returned.
- Consider that you may need to undo or remove anything you put into the garden. Regardless of how beautiful you have made the space, your landlord may still need you to return it to its original state. If you can’t take your garden with you, local gardening groups will often welcome donated plants and pots.
Repeating forms and textures between houseplants and outdoor plants you can make your space flow beautifully.
A property owner’s guide
Analysis of rental properties on Rightmove.com suggested that having a garden can add on average 15% to rental income. Enabling tenants to garden is not only good for the environment, it also benefits relations between homeowner and tenant and ensures the property is being cared for and is a joyful place to live.
Before you rent your property to tenants
While it is reasonable to expect basic maintenance from tenants, this does not extend to regular watering of pots or regular pruning, so make the garden as low-maintenance with hardy, drought-tolerant plants.
- Consider if a lawn is essential, they can be high maintenance, quickly look shabby and take up potential growing space. A permeable paving area surrounded by beds is attractive, low maintenance and provides both seating and growing areas.
- Depending on the size of your garden it might be worth installing a lockable shed for tools and a water butt to make maintenances work as easy as possible.
- Avoid cramming the garden with plants. Tenants who don’t garden may not want to look after them and tenants who do, may prefer some space to grow their own choice of plants.
- It’s a good idea to include what is expected of whom in the tenancy agreement.
Property owners need to consider the effect of seasonality on the garden and accept there may be some losses. A tenant can’t be held responsible for extreme weather, pests and diseases or the life cycle of plants. Communication is key. Maintain a good relationship with your tenant, being open to their requests where possible will make them more likely to report issues and look after your property.
See also
How to make a wildlife container pond
Pots and container habitats
Trees in containers
Creating a budget-friendly garden