Snow removal in Toronto (2 unit house)

[Nicola]

We have a 2-unit (up/down) semi-detached house in Toronto. We`ve just had an email from our property manager in Toronto telling us that our fantastic tenant of five years is moving out

He lived in the main floor unit and always took care of the snow removal and other yard work, though the (small) front yard is virtually maintenance-free.

Our property manager is strongly urging us not to consider asking the new tenant to take care of the gardening (I`m think I`m OK with this) or snow removal. He thinks it`s not worthwhile from a liability perspective.

My understanding, at least out west, is that the main floor tenant is normally responsible for snow removal. Is this not the case in Toronto?

Does anyone have any experience with this, or have any idea what a winter`s worth of snow removal in Toronto (frontage of 20 feet) would cost?

Thanks!
Nicola

 

[terri]

Hi Nicola,

if it`s the policy of your property management company to not rely on tenant to do snow removal then they must have companies that they can reccommend.
My tenants usually do it, they all take turns, the job is not left to just one apt, but your prop manager is right, you are ultimately liable and responsible if they don`t.
Perhaps you can get a quote and offer your tenants a rebate if they take care of it and if they don`t you hire a snow removal company and they lose their rebate.

 

[RussellWestcott]

The good news is you may have a couple of months to find one... hopefully

 

[Nicola]

Our property manager is saying $200/month to shovel the front sidewalk, walk to the front of the house and along the side of the house, and to the garage at the back. The lot is 20 feet x 121 feet.

This seems excessive??

 

[Nir]

Hey Nicola,

My tenants do that as it is clearly mentioned in their tenancy acknowledgement that rent does NOT include snow removal. I understand now that this may not be the case but they have no issue with that. perhaps they simply think (and maybe are right) that their rent is low for what they get.. so from this point of view it`s a Win
Win.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Manjula]

Nicola,

In my duplex, I requested that the tenants split lawn maintenance and snow removal duties, so the bottom tenant is responsible as well.

I know snow removal for residential homes in the surburbs can go between $600 - $800 for the winter. Perhaps you should get a quote from an independent party.

Good luck!
Manj

 

[Nicola]

QUOTE (Manjula @ Jul 5 2008, 10:34 PM) Nicola,

In my duplex, I requested that the tenants split lawn maintenance and snow removal duties, so the bottom tenant is responsible as well.

I know snow removal for residential homes in the surburbs can go between $600 - $800 for the winter. Perhaps you should get a quote from an independent party.

Good luck!
Manj

Hi Manji,

Thanks for your reply and suggestion. Unfortunately I don`t think I can get the upper tenant to do half, as she`s lived there for 4 years without having to do it... But I`ll definitely check into quotes from other snow removal companies.

Thanks,
Nicola