Who deals with deck lichen?

Our Experts Answer:

A few questions arise here. You haven’t said what the deck was like when the tenancy started. How long has the tenant been living in the property? What is mentioned in the tenancy agreement? A tenant is required to keep the property “reasonably clean and tidy”, but they are not required to improve the property for the landlord. It depends on the particular circumstances whether removing lichen and moss from decks and paths is a responsibility of the tenant or the landlord. I suggest you ask yourself whether having a safe environment for your tenants is going to keep them happy and reduce the chances of them moving out. It may be in your interest to have the lichen treated and make the decks safer.