The garden - is my landlord being reasonable??

AndyInYorks

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

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 amateur

To be honest until now he's been very reasonable.

I've only ever dealt with him by phone but for example when the boiler packed in, he sent a plumber later that day to mend it. And he phoned me a couple of days later to check it was working properly.

When the washing machine was leaking, he was on holiday, so he told me to get it sorted out, pay for the repairs, send him the receipt and then knock it off my next rent payment. I thought that was a slightly strange way to do things but it worked.

He has left me alone, never wanted to come and inspect, never put the rent up, when the gas service is due he emails me to ask when will be convenient and then books the gas man to come while I'm in (which I prefer). Until 7:30 this morning. I'm a bit worried now...

poppysarah

If the original plants were annuals then you'd not expect them to be there two years later.

If you're not into gardening then keeping the beds weed free and mowing the lawn is probably chore enough.

As others have said 7.30 in the morning is utterly wrong time to be waking you up.

AndyInYorks

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I have an odd feeling that the OP might not have a formal tenancy agreement

Yes, I do. It says I have:

"To keep all gardens, driveways, paths and lawns neat and tidy and properly tended at all times. The Tenant shall not cut down or remove any trees, shrubs or plants without the Landlord's written permission."

Perhaps I should have asked for written permission to kill the dandilions?

franklee

You did take photos of the garden when you moved in, checked you agreed with the inventory, made a note of the state of the garden and attached to the inventory or at least put it in writing to the landlord?

If so then it will show that there were no flowers.

As the landlord had been reasonable till now then I would right now put your views to him IN WRITING. Describe again the state of the garden when you moved in and that you have improved it. State your objections to being woken up without any notice of the visit. Re-iterate that you require all visits from him to be by mutually agreed appointment.

Then I'd let it go this one time.

BitterAndTwisted

I'm so glad that the OP actually has a TA, but that advice from Franklee really doesn't sound like letting it go to me. In his/her place I'd just mention that the garden was a jungle when moving in and remind the LL that he's attempted to do his/her best to improve it and leave it at that. No need to stir up the waters, I reckon

franklee

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'm so glad that the OP actually has a TA, but that advice from Franklee really doesn't sound like letting it go to me. In his/her place I'd just mention that the garden was a jungle when moving in and remind the LL that he's attempted to do his/her best to improve it and leave it at that. No need to stir up the waters, I reckon

Putting things in writing isn't stirring waters. The landlord/tenant is a business relationship and putting things in writing is a routine way of establishing what's happened/been agreed just the same as in any other business transaction.

In the OP's case he needs an eye to preventing any disputes over his deposit with regard to the condition of the garden now that the landlord has shown he thinks the garden was better than it was and also to establish that popping round unannounced isn't on with a view to preventing it happening again and establishing a paper trail if it does.

Of course any letter should be polite and business like.

The problem with any "just mention" is that it gets forgotten by the time the tenant moves out or the next unannounced visit occurs. If the OP would rather do it by phone then he can always follow up with a short confirmation of what was said in writing.

Katharine

If he's been reasonable in the past then try and be reasonable with him. I would point out what the garden was like when you moved in, and also that he should at least let you know if he's coming round as 7:30am isan't convenient for you! If its possible to keep a good relationship with your landlord it's probably worth it. But if he wanted the garden to be kept pretty he should have sorted it before you moved in, then you could maintain it.

The garden was an absolute mess when I moved into my house, it had obviously been loved in the past but it had gotten too much for the pervious tenant and been untouched while the house was empty for 6 months. For my own enjoyment I put alot of work into it last year. I haven't had to put any plants in there are plenty there they were just hidden under all the weeds. I was going to do the same this year. But as my landlord has been continually breaking the tenancy agreement regarding comeing to the house, and being hugely unreasonable to the point of harressment, I don't feel inclined now. Were are cutting the grass and thats it, the garden is still better now than when we moved in. We are moveing ASAP.

superfran_uk

Anyone who woke me up at 7.30am on a Saturday would NOT get a welcoming reception. How dare he! I'm far more concerned with that than the garden.

As far as that's concerned, what does it matter to him how the garden is while you are living there? Tell him to bog off.

BitterAndTwisted

Sorry Franklee, it was obviously my fault for not being absolutely clear about what I thought might "stir up the waters". It was only this bit:

franklee wrote: »

State your objections to being woken up without any notice of the visit. Re-iterate that you require all visits from him to be by mutually agreed appointment. Then I'd let it go this one time.

Taking photos for use when the tenancy ends and writing to the landlord about the state of the garden when moving in was good advice.

missile

I would phone him and politely but firmly tell him you think this was unreasonable request and you do not appreciate his early morning wake up visit, ask him to phone before he calls again.

You have been renting for 2 years and LL has been reasonable up until now. Maybe he was having a bad day and I would let it go. Writing demanding your rights will only alienate the LL.