Every landlord has been here. The tenancy agreement includes a garden maintenance clause. The mid-term inspection arrives. The lawn is knee-high, the edges are ragged, and the lawnmower you provided is sitting in the rain with a flat tyre.
The reality is that in 2026, most tenants are time-poor, tool-free, and - let's be honest - largely indifferent to maintaining a garden on a property they don't own. That isn't a criticism; it's just the market. Expecting consistent garden upkeep from tenants is, for most landlords, an exercise in optimism.
Artificial grass removes the friction entirely. There's no equipment to provide, repair, or replace. No seasonal maintenance to police. No dispute at checkout about whether the lawn was "left in good order." The surface looks the same in November as it did in May - because it does.
A rental property only generates income when it's occupied. Every day of void time is a direct cost, and in a competitive market, first impressions - particularly in listing photography - determine how quickly a property lets.
Natural grass in Ireland looks its worst during the winter and early spring months, which are often peak rental listing periods. Moss, mud, yellowing patches, and waterlogged corners are not the backdrop that gets enquiries.
A Sanctuary lawn is photographed in January and looks like it was photographed in June. That consistency translates directly into faster lettings and stronger applicant pools - particularly from the high-quality, long-term tenants that every landlord is actually looking for.
Properties with low-maintenance, high-spec finishes signal to prospective tenants that the landlord is serious about the property. That signal attracts tenants who are equally serious about maintaining it.
Ask any landlord what their biggest end-of-tenancy expense is and the answer is almost always flooring. Carpets, rugs, and hallway tiles bear the brunt of six months of Irish winter - and in a property with a natural lawn, that means mud.
Children, dogs, and even adults treating a natural garden as a cut-through will track that mud directly onto your floors. The cost of steam cleaning, carpet replacement, and repainting scuffed skirting boards accumulates quietly but significantly across multiple tenancies.
A free-draining artificial lawn eliminates the mud source. What goes on outside stays outside.
On pets specifically: pet-friendly rentals are commanding a meaningful premium in the Irish market right now, yet many landlords remain reluctant to allow them due to garden damage concerns. A professionally installed artificial lawn is immune to digging, won't discolour from pet use, and - with the correct drainage specification - manages pet hygiene effectively. It allows you to market confidently as pet-friendly while carrying zero landscaping risk.
The "cheap" natural lawn is one of the more persistent myths in Irish property management. When you account for all associated costs over a ten-year period, the numbers tell a different story.
| Cost Item | Natural Lawn (10 yrs) | Artificial Lawn (10 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Professional garden maintenance (x2/yr) | €2,000–€4,000 | €0 |
| Equipment (mower, strimmer, replacement) | €400–€800 | €0 |
| Lawn treatments, seed, fertiliser | €300–€600 | €0 |
| Deposit dispute / remediation costs | €500–€1,500 | Negligible |
| Mud-related interior cleaning/repairs | €600–€1,200 | Significantly reduced |
| Estimated 10-year maintenance cost | €3,800–€8,100 | ~€0 |
| Initial installation cost (40m²) | €300–€600 | €1,400–€2,600 |
A professionally installed Sanctuary lawn carries a product lifespan of 15–20 years. On a ten-year view, the install cost is not just recovered - it generates a net saving while simultaneously improving the property's presentation and marketability.
A note on tax: some landlords have successfully treated artificial grass installation as a capital improvement allowable against rental income. This is not universal and depends on individual circumstances - your accountant will advise - but it's worth raising the question before you write the cheque.
For a rental property, there is no margin for a failed install. A DIY job or a budget "man with a van" installation will deteriorate under the heavier, less careful use that characterises tenanted properties. Edges lift. Seams pull. Drainage fails.
A Sanctuary professional installation is engineered for longevity from the ground up:
Compacted sub-base: Our 804 crushed stone and quarry dust base is compacted with a vibrating plate, creating a solid, porous foundation that won't shift under heavy garden furniture, children's play equipment, or repeated foot traffic across the same paths.
Industrial seaming: In rental properties, joins are the first point of failure in a substandard install. We use industrial-grade adhesive and specialist seaming tape to create one continuous, uninterrupted surface. No lifting edges. No trip hazards. No callbacks.
Workmanship guarantee: Our guarantee covers drainage performance, seam integrity, and surface levelness - not just the product. For a landlord, that distinction matters. You're not just buying grass; you're buying the assurance that you won't be back on site fixing it.
This one is harder to put a number on, but experienced landlords will recognise it immediately.
Tenants are significantly more likely to respect and maintain a property that clearly reflects a landlord's investment. A well-presented, low-maintenance garden sets a standard from day one. It communicates that the landlord cares about the property - and that expectation tends to be reciprocated.
By removing the garden as a chore and repositioning it as a usable lifestyle space, you're more likely to attract tenants who treat it as such. In our experience, properties with high-spec outdoor spaces generate fewer maintenance calls, fewer disputes, and longer tenancies. The garden, done properly, pays social dividends as well as financial ones.
Most rental gardens are. These are the scenarios where the ROI case is strongest:
The modern landlord isn't looking for a hobby. They're looking for a yield - and the fewer variables eating into that yield, the better.
A professionally installed Sanctuary lawn converts a recurring, unpredictable maintenance liability into a single capital investment with a 15–20 year horizon. It makes your property more attractive to better tenants, faster. It protects your interior from mud-related wear. And it eliminates one of the most persistent sources of landlord-tenant friction in the Irish rental market.
If you're managing a single property or a portfolio of ten, the conversation is the same. We're happy to assess your property, provide a detailed quote, and outline the specification that makes the most sense for your specific situation.
Contact our team in Naas to arrange a no-obligation consultation.
