Full-time residents asked to maintain neighbors property
 

Does anyone else have the issue with neighbors in your community who live in Canada or other parts of the country during the summer asking you to help maintain the property while they are away just because you live her full-time?

Please add clarity. 'Maintain' like mow grass trim shrubs or walk around the house every month?

Would not do it.
 

NEVER heard of of this issue. I would not want the responsibility of maintaining another's property. One thing to agree to water a few potted plants that could be brought to your home for a couple of weeks or to be willing to give them a call or text if you notice a problem. Quite another to be asked to do more than that and take on possible liability. There are professionals who are set up to do this. Let snowbird neighbors get professional property managers to do it. Being held hostage by having to maintain their property when you might decide you wanted to travel or need to go visit family who may need you is not reasonable imo.
Just say "NO".
Just curious to what prompted this question in the first place?

We don't "maintain" our neighbor's property exactly - but when they're out of town for a few weeks we're happy to go in and switch the lights every day so it looks like someone's still there, water a plant if it needs watering, bring in the mail for them, flush a toilet every week, little stuff like that. I'm grateful they'd do the same for us.

I don't understand how this could possibly be an "issue". If you don't want to do it, then just say no.

Just what are the snowbird asking.
 

We need clarification. Because OP mentioned "that live in Canada or other parts of the country during the summer", I believe OP is referring to "snowbirds" that are spending up to half or more of the year at their other/real home. I have been asked to "home watch" my brother's house for a couple of weeks while they were on a cruise. No problem. But I would find it presumptuous of a snowbird neighbor to be asked to be responsible for their home maintenance for months at a time while they go back home. What happens if you need to go to help family, have to go to hospital or even think you might decide you would like to travel. Length of time and what is of the caretaker needs to be clarified by OP.

Need to know more about this in order to tell you how I would feel.

We did have some unusually long vacations coming up until the virus told us not to go so might have done something reciprocal with a neighbor

No, but I think that’s just asking too much. As nice as your neighbors might be, they need to make their own arrangements.

no. Or You could say sure as long as you maintain my property while you’re here ( I sure they say no, I’m on vacation) Some people have no boundaries. Sound like the kind of friends that friends as long as you Are taken advantage of at there beck and call.

No clarification from the OP...

One big reason to say no is that if something happens to your neighbor’s/friend’s/relative’s property, you could be held liable by whomever asked and/or their insurance company. As has been said, checking for mail, noticing if a sprinkler is broken, etc. for a week or two is one thing but to do so for 30 days or more is too much risk.

I’d be uncomfortable with such a request, but up north I have one neighbor who wouldn’t hesitate to ask a request like that, or borrow stuff without asking etc. My other neighbor is the opposite.

That is not your responsibility. they can hire someone to do that

If you can afford 2 homes you can afford a home watcher for $20/mo.

But for me, i naturally keep an eye on my neighbors places.

My neighbor back home plowed my driveway a few times and mowed the lawn once. I bought him a nice gift in return. His comment was “ that’s what neighbors do “

If you are asked and you do it, see if they do something nice for you when they return. If not, you’ve Been taken advantage of