Storm Debris & Rental Rights: Clarifying Responsibility for Fallen Branches

Legal experts and recent disputes clarify that landlords are responsible for major tree maintenance and storm debris removal in Australian rental properties.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 7:44 AM EDT

Source: realestate.com.au

The Legal Framework: Maintenance vs. Housekeeping

In the Australian rental market, the division of labor regarding gardens is generally dictated by the scale of the task.

Tenant Responsibility: Typically includes light "housekeeping" such as mowing the lawn, weeding, and clearing away small sticks or leaves.

Landlord Responsibility: Covers specialized maintenance, including lopping trees, repairing fences damaged by falling limbs, and removing large branches—especially those requiring saws or professional equipment.

As one industry expert noted, the primary benefit of paying rent is to shift the financial and logistical burden of structural home ownership repairs onto the landlord.

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