Is Landlord responsible for Garden?

LoMax

Thank you all for your comments and may_fair in particular for very informative post.

Yes I've gone off track in some way and realise that part of the issue here is with other tenants which should be resolved mutually. I am trying to determine who is responsible here for the garden. If its conclusive that its tenants responsibility then I will approach other tenants to share the fuel costs.

So far the garden has been maintained by tenants but when fuel ran out I was the one who refilled the petrol-can thinking I would get money back from LL. I dont have problem with cutting the grass either and quite enjoy a bit of gardening. My issue is the point blank 'NO' from LL to chip in for petrol costs which has really got my back up. I just thought f*** you - do it yourself (sorry if this causes offense to any one).

What I really want to do is send him text or call and tell him to send round someone to cut the garden. If he refuses then I would like to remind him its 'actually his responsibility'. If this is not the case then Im fighting a losing battle and will take up issue with other tenants.

Lazzza

It's the tenant's responsibility so hit your other tenants up or get a hand mower.

casper_g

LoMax wrote: »

So far the garden has been maintained by tenants but when fuel ran out I was the one who refilled the petrol-can thinking I would get money back from LL. I dont have problem with cutting the grass either and quite enjoy a bit of gardening. My issue is the point blank 'NO' from LL to chip in for petrol costs which has really got my back up. I just thought f*** you - do it yourself (sorry if this causes offense to any one).

What I really want to do is send him text or call and tell him to send round someone to cut the garden. If he refuses then I would like to remind him its 'actually his responsibility'. If this is not the case then Im fighting a losing battle and will take up issue with other tenants.

Cutting the grass is a normal thing to expect tenants to do. I've rented two houses, and have always been expected to cut the grass. It sounds like you're luckier than I was in that the landlord has provided a lawn mower, and has even provided a certain amount of fuel to get you started. I use an electric lawnmower I bought myself, and the landlord doesn't contribute to the electricity cost (nor has it ever occurred to me that he should).

Yorkie1

LoMax wrote: »

Well thank you all for your replies. I subscribed to this thread but got no email notifications so assumed no replies to thread.


At this stage I think Im gonna let the garden grow wild and if he doesnt give my deposit back at the end of my term here I will take him to small claims court and argue that I pulled my weight but other tenants didnt. What you guys think?

1. I think the default position when you subscribe to the thread is no notifications - you need to use the drop down list to choose the email notification you want.

2. I think you'd lose in the small claims court, and it would cause significant stress and possibly cost at a time when you want to be moving onto a new property. It's in your tenancy agreement and therefore the LL could come after you at the time you leave. I can see it's a matter of principle which may well rankle if not resolved as you wish, but there really is a bigger picture here.

Try asking for a push mower or battery operated strimmer on freecycle and work it out with your housemates.

Suzanne_Louise

I'm really very bemused at the fact that you expect your LL to pay for petrol in the mower! If it was an electric mower, would you expect them to contribute to the electriticy bill?

LoMax

Suzanne_Louise wrote: »

I'm really very bemused at the fact that you expect your LL to pay for petrol in the mower! If it was an electric mower, would you expect them to contribute to the electriticy bill?

If its LL's responsibility then yes I'd expect him to pay for whatever costs it incurs.

real1314

LoMax wrote: »

If its LL's responsibility then yes I'd expect him to pay for whatever costs it incurs.

Sounds to me like the lack of a communal pot of cash for supplies has pushed you to the point where you are now taking extreme action over piddling issues.

£7.50 for over a gallon of petrol which will last months in the lawn mower (how many mpg does it do?).

You'll only be able to "prove" it's the LLs job by going to court over it, which would probably be dismissed by any sensible judge as trivial and a waste of the court's time.

On the other hand, the LL could just get a gardener in and put the rent up. Probably by more than the £7.50 every 3 months the petrol will cost.

Solve the real problem - get a communal kitty going.
:cool:

J_i_m

This might be a un-welcome analogy... but if a tenant expects a LL to mow the lawn (or pay for it), then they may as well expect them to hoover the carpet, (or pay for the electric to).

Gorgeous_George

You entered into a contract to rent the property. I assume you use the garden. Deal with it.

GG

p.s. Yes, I am having a bad day

SandC

J_i_m wrote: »

This might be a un-welcome analogy... but if a tenant expects a LL to mow the lawn (or pay for it), then they may as well expect them to hoover the carpet, (or pay for the electric to).

Exactly. And the LL should attend regularly to weed the flowerbeds.