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The garden - is my landlord being reasonable??
AndyInYorks
Posts: 331 Forumite
Hi,
Some advice please:
I moved into this house in September 2007. When I moved in the back garden was like a jungle. As it was September I didn't do much with it except mow the grass and get as many weeds out of the path as possible. On close inspection I could see there used to be a flower bed, but the only flowers growing in it were dandilions, so i pulled them all out.
The next door neighbour, who is a relative of the Landlord, told me that the previous tennant had loved gardening, and when she moved in had transformed the garden from a jungle to a area. However the house had been empty over the summer so it had all got overgrown again.
Last year I mowed the grass regularly, pulled up any weeds that grew and put a few flowers in. I'm not that keen on gardening so I didn't make a huge effort but kept it tidy.
My flowers died over winter and all I've done so far this year is mow the grass and dig the (empty) flower bed over. I wouldn't win any prizes at the Chelsea Flower Show but it wasn't a mess.
This morning, at 7:30, the landlord (who I've not seen since I moved in) knocked on the door and asked when I was going to sort the garden out. I asked what was wrong with it and he said I should plant some more flowers!
I was actually planning to put a few flowers in this weekend anyway. But can he insist I plant flowers, given that the place was a complete mess when I took it over. I could understand his point if there had been flowers in that I'd killed, but as it was, all I did was dig up weeds.
What annoys me more is, when i came to view the house, I said it was a shame there wasn't a patio. The LL said he'd build one (he's a builder). Two weeks after moving in, his workman turned up and put a pile of paving slabs outside my back door. I thought these were for my patio, but two years later they're still in a pile.
Am I right in thinking I just have to keep the garden to the standard it was when I moved in. Actually I want it to be tidy so I can sit outside now it's nice - but has he got any right to tell me I have to plant flowers??
Some advice please:
I moved into this house in September 2007. When I moved in the back garden was like a jungle. As it was September I didn't do much with it except mow the grass and get as many weeds out of the path as possible. On close inspection I could see there used to be a flower bed, but the only flowers growing in it were dandilions, so i pulled them all out.
The next door neighbour, who is a relative of the Landlord, told me that the previous tennant had loved gardening, and when she moved in had transformed the garden from a jungle to a area. However the house had been empty over the summer so it had all got overgrown again.
Last year I mowed the grass regularly, pulled up any weeds that grew and put a few flowers in. I'm not that keen on gardening so I didn't make a huge effort but kept it tidy.
My flowers died over winter and all I've done so far this year is mow the grass and dig the (empty) flower bed over. I wouldn't win any prizes at the Chelsea Flower Show but it wasn't a mess.
This morning, at 7:30, the landlord (who I've not seen since I moved in) knocked on the door and asked when I was going to sort the garden out. I asked what was wrong with it and he said I should plant some more flowers!
I was actually planning to put a few flowers in this weekend anyway. But can he insist I plant flowers, given that the place was a complete mess when I took it over. I could understand his point if there had been flowers in that I'd killed, but as it was, all I did was dig up weeds.
What annoys me more is, when i came to view the house, I said it was a shame there wasn't a patio. The LL said he'd build one (he's a builder). Two weeks after moving in, his workman turned up and put a pile of paving slabs outside my back door. I thought these were for my patio, but two years later they're still in a pile.
Am I right in thinking I just have to keep the garden to the standard it was when I moved in. Actually I want it to be tidy so I can sit outside now it's nice - but has he got any right to tell me I have to plant flowers??
Happy New Year :beer:
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Comments
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Tell him to buy the flowers and you'll plant them, otherwise tell him to go knackers. You certainly dont have to improve the house/garden, unless it specifically says so in your tenancy agreement, which I doubt it does.0
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i would say no. the fact that he turned up at 7.30am on a saturday to tell you that it would make me want to be delibertly bloody minded and not plant anything that i had planned.
i think as long as you leave it in the same state or better that what it was when you took over the tenancy is the bare minimum he can expect.Debt free 3 years early :j
Savings for house deposit - very healthy
Cash back earnt so far £14.570 -
All you have to do is maintain the garden. As I understand it that would be just to keep it tidy and cut the grass. You would not be expected to spend your own money on plants - that would be ridiculous.
Check out your tenancy agreement for the actual wording.0 -
what is he doing tunring up unanncounced at such a ridiculous time in the morning
Slimming world start 28/01/2012 starting weight 21st 2.5lb current weight 17st 9-total loss 3st 7.5lb
Slimmer of the month February , March ,April
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He's not "allowed" to randomly knock on your door.
He can't tell you what to do/not in the garden, your only obligation would be to have it as nice or nicer when you leave as when you arrived.
He's an idiot.0 -
If it was me I would plant the flowers and then take them all up when you leave (put them in pots)
As long as you leave the garden as it was found (a mess) you should be fine.0 -
Next thing you know, the sod will be back asking why you haven't done any improvements to the interior of the house as well. Cheeky monkey! Abviously an amateur0
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If it was me I would plant the flowers and then take them all up when you leave (put them in pots)
As long as you leave the garden as it was found (a mess) you should be fine.
Thanks everyone for confirming what I thought. I was equally annoyed at being woken at 7:30 on Saturday morning. I think had I been more awake I would have asked him to pay for the flowers.
I'm going to email him now and ask him when he intends to lay the patio, or if he isn't going to, can he remove the slabs please.Happy New Year :beer:0 -
what does it say in your tenancy agreement about the garden?
"" but has he got any right to tell me I have to plant flowers??" - no he doesn't0 -
I have an odd feeling that the OP might not have a formal tenancy agreement0
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