rented property and gardening

CharlieRabbit01

Hi

I've rencently solved a problem we've had with a mystery gardener, left for work in the morning all fine only to come home at lunch to find some one has been doing the gardening and not very well at that.

Anyway I've since found out the LL sent the gardener.

My contract states its is my responsibility to maintain the garden to the current standard and not cut back established bushes etc (i'm sure most of you know the standard contracts).

So this gardener has cut back established bushes pulled up half of the gardeners garter in our front border garden so that now looks untidy and un even.

As well as cutting back the flowers in my back garden pulled up some weeds (he left most of them).

A week ago I sprayed the weeds that had grown up between the slabs with weedol and i was waiting for them to die off but he's scrapped them out but left all the debris all over my footpath which i now need to clear up.

It's the first time i've had a garden can the landlord send a gardener with out telling me first? I intend to tell the agency who manage us that he did a rubbish job.

Lionel_Thinkbag

Someone else will probably be able to advise better than me, but I suggest you take photos of his 'handiwork' just in case

CharlieRabbit01

going to take some today, if i'd employed him i wouldn't have paid him for it.

ognum

I seem to answer the same to everything!!

Please talk to the landlord, discuss with him/her why they sent someone, what you want to happen in the future, and the state the garden has been left in.

The landlord may believe they have done you a big favour, please just have a conversation with them.

CharlieRabbit01

are they supposed to give me notice that someone is coming? just like they would if they were coming into the house?

Just want to get my facts straight first.

G_M

First decide what you want. Would you like someone to help in the garden, at the LL's expence?

If so, the issue is the quality of work, not the presence of a gardener.

If you like gardening and would rather do it yourself, then the issue is the presence of a gardener.

Once you've decided this, ring the LL (if you have number - if not, drop a friendly note asking him to ring you, or invite him for tea/chat!) and discuss.

Thank him forgardener, give polite feedback (remember, he thinks he's doing you a favour while looking after his property - he does not know the gardener was rubbish!), and then suggest whatever you've decided - ie

* no gardener - you will take respnsibility
* different gardener (you find one? He does?)
* or same gardener, but to work under your direction, with you 'signing off' what he does before LL pays him

Once you're reached agreement, pop a friendly letter in post to LL just confirming the new arrangement, so it is on record (keep a copy!)

CharlieRabbit01

We weren't expecting a gardener and its so small we are happy to do it ourselves especially since we want to put a few of out own plants in the border (currently its bare apart from the odd plant and weeds).

This was also what we thought was the arrangement (the managing agent also confirmed this).

If the landlord wants to continue to provide a gardener then that's ok, but are they required to give us notice?

Though I wasnt in that morning I feel like my privacy was invaded.

ognum

Please just phone the landlord have a pleasant chat and you can work this out together, you can explain how you feel, he can answer your questions.

There seems to be a general theme between tenants and landlords and visa versa that they are unable to pick up a phone and chat about an issue. I am sure you talk with your parents or work colleagues, just tell him how you want it!

Werdnal

If this "gardener" was not pre-arrange or expected to be provided, are you sure he even came to the right house? Stranger things have happened!

I would have been ringing the Landlord as soon as I got home, telling him some vandal has been in and massacred the garden which you were doing your best to keep tidy and reporting that are not responsible for the damage caused.

CharlieRabbit01

I have to go through my letting agent. according to the letting agent the landlord has confirmed that they sent someone round.

ognum

Ask the letting agent for the landlords phone number and talk to him!