MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Karl let the neighbours use his garden?

Yes if they pay part of the morgage as rent.

I would say no. He pays a premium for the garden and would find it difficult to draw up a rota of who should use the garden and when. If they wanted a flat with garden, they should have moved in there when the previous owner left, not assume that they would be able to continue usage.

I use my garden sporadically and would hate if my neighbours were out there at a time when I have friends round etc and we just want to be outside without sharing the space.

Of course it depends on Karl's lifestyle: if he's unlikely to use it, he should let them continue to use it, but I would draw up a very simple contract rather than rely on goodwill. For example, he must insist that if he has plans to use the garden, his needs take priority. He may become friendly himself with these people over time, but he can't be certain of that.

However, he did pay extra for the garden and this was probably because he intended to use it, either recreationally or to take forward as a proper planted garden. In this case he should politely but firmly say no, because he has his own plans for the garden, is worried about security if they have a key, etc. Otherwise there's just simply too much risk that the neighbours will abuse the facility, have their friends' children round to muck up the lawn, and so on. Karl should have the confidence to insist that the garden is his space and his alone if he intends to use it regulalry and wants to maintain his privacy.

Perhaps suggest they approach the management company of the flats about another location for the clothes line, or devise some other solution. Developers and builders can be very cavalier about providing locations for such practical matters, and the easy solution of a tumble drier is ridicuous in mid-summer, as well as expensive.

No he shouldnt. They should have asked him first. The fact they have already assumed they can use the garden without asking means they are already starting to think of it as a right. Stop it now before it gets out of hand:p

Many years ago my parents lived in a first-floor flat with no right to use the garden, but as a favour from the owners of the ground floor flat were allowed to use it for ONE MORNING only each week to hang out washing - and if it was raining, tough! This was in the days before tumble dryers, etc but they coped. Sorry, but no way should Karl allow this situation to continue. The fact that the previous owner was friendly with these neighbours does not mean that Karl also has to go beyond basic good neighbourliness (which does not include sharing your garden!) and it is unfair to assume that he would feel the same friendship before actually knowing these people. In fact, the opposite might occur and this unofficial sharing might well lead to unpleasantness between them. Don't do it!