From a landlords perspective (don't shoot me).....having lawns maintained to me means that they are kept the way they were when the owner (or previous tenant - subject to landlords satisfaction) left them. With my house and gardens in Perth, we pay for the lawns to be mowed and edged once a month (will change very soon) and expect only the garden beds, plants and grass to be weeded and watered. That is very clearly stipulated in our Lease. If you're a tenant who is not a gardener, then perhaps don't rent a house with a garden and save yourself the hassle!

Our house has bore water though, and a timer which we set to come on on our watering days for 10 minutes each station.

I don't particularly care whether the tenants don't maintain it to my standard while they are living there (and I can't see it) but I sure as hell expect to see it back the way I left it before I get it back for myself. If the tenant doesn't maintain it, then it only means harder work for them IYKWIM, so it's easier to do it than to fight and faff around asking for this and that. That's just me though and I'm a gardener!

As far as the hose, we left ours with the house, and expect it to be there when we get back. If I was a tenant in a house without a hose, I'd just go out and buy one of those ones for the grass that you lay there with the holes in it (or a regular one, whatever tickles your fancy)....but it would stay mine and I'd take it with me. No one gets anything for free!