6 Hidden Perils Of Tenants Shoveling

Great tenants are amazing. I love mine. But relying on them for snow removal and lawn mowing? And giving them rent credits for it?

That’s where well-meaning optimism can turn into a slow leak in your operations, your property value and relationship with them.

1.Snow Doesn’t Care About Promises – New tenants are enthusiastic about shoveling snow during their August move in.  They may not be as excited about the prospect in January. The longer the sidewalk remains unshoveled, the higher the likelihood for it turning into ice. Of course, this in turn increases the possibility of city citations, pedestrians slipping, falling, getting injured and filing insurance claims. In other words, unkept tenant promises may result in landlord liability.

2.Lawn Care Starts Strong… and Dies by July – Mowing the lawn is fun the first month of spring. Soonafter, it becomes drudgery. The next thing you know, the grass is a foot tall and the city sends you a citation. The tenant gets the rent credit for not mowing, while the housing provider pays the bill.

3. A Rent Credit Is Not a Maintenance Contract. What if the tenant is actually bad at lawn care or snow removal? You can’t exactly raise their rent next month and say, “Your shoveling is sub-par, so the discount is gone. ”You’re now trapped in a quality-control relationship you never wanted.

4. It Damages the Asset. When snow sits, it becomes ice, which can damage steps, sidewalks, gutters and foundations. Too much salt poured on icy concrete makes it look like the surface of the moon.

5. The Hidden Killer: Rent Credits Reduce Revenue… Which Reduces Property Value. This is the one nobody talks about—and it’s the one that hurts your long-term wealth the most. When you give tenants $50, $75, even $100/month off for lawn and snow, it feels harmless.

But you’re not just reducing cash flow today—you’re reducing the building’s value tomorrow. Multifamily properties (yes, even duplexes) are valued based on income. Not vibes. Not curb appeal. Income.

So when you reduce your monthly rent by $50–$100 in exchange for inconsistent manual labor, you’re also reducing your annual income by:

• $600–$1,200 per year
• Every year
• Until the end of time… or until you fix it

And that reduced income directly lowers your property’s market value. Give a tenant $100/month credit for lawn + snow → $1,200/year lost revenue.

Assume a conservative small-multifamily cap rate of 6.5%.

$1,200 ÷ 0.065 = $18,461 in property value LOST.

You didn’t just give them a discount. You gave away nearly $20,000 in asset value. If you have two units and give both tenants credits? Double it.

6. When They Move Out, Your Entire Plan Explodes. If the tenant leaves, there goes your maintenance plan. Now you’re left scrambling mid season to find a new solution. And you can’t suddenly raise rent on the new tenant by $100 to undo the credit you gave the last one.

So What Should You Do Instead? Hire professionals. Always. And if the tenants WANT to help? Give them a gift card or pay directly for each completed task.

Your investment property is designed to create long-term wealth for you and your family; and to keep your revenue where it belongs—with you, the property owner.

If you want help running the numbers or structuring rents correctly in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I’m here.