On a rented property in Georgia, the cost of taking a tree down almost always falls to the landlord, because tree removal is a matter of property maintenance and the trees are part of the real estate the owner is responsible for. A tenant rents the use of the property, not ownership of its permanent features, and a tree, along with the obligation to keep it from becoming a hazard, belongs to the owner.
The reasoning is straightforward. Trees are a fixed part of the land and the structure of the property, the same category as the roof, the foundation, or the plumbing. Maintaining those features, including removing a dead, diseased, or hazardous tree, is ordinarily the landlord’s duty. If a tree on a rental property is dying or threatening the home, a tenant who notices it should report it to the landlord or property manager in writing, and the owner is the one who arranges and pays for the removal.
A lease can complicate this, so read the agreement. Some single-family rentals assign routine yard upkeep to the tenant, but routine maintenance like mowing and basic landscaping is a different category from removing a large or hazardous tree, which is typically a significant expense that remains the owner’s. If a tenant’s own negligence caused the problem, that can change the picture, but a tree failing on its own does not.
Because leases vary and liability can hinge on the specific facts, a tenant or landlord facing a real dispute or actual damage is wise to review the lease terms and, where significant money is involved, get advice tailored to the situation.