Council insisting I clean up my back yard... can they do this?>

confused_landlord

Basically, it's a private back yard of an end of terrace property. Not visible to the public unless you use the side entrance door.

The council have left a letter advising I clean up the back yard within 7 days or they will do it for me and charge me for it. They also said I need to trim the trees.

Bearing in mind, I currently live in Germany and this property is rented out, this does not leave me with a lot of time.

The thing is there is nothing there to really clean up. There is patio furniture, a brick BBQ, a bike etc. But nothing more dangerous than that. As for the trees that need trimming - They all belong to the neighbours and I have written to the neighbours in the past asking them to please trim the trees that overhang onto my side of the yard. I'm not really into maintenance, and my whole yard had been paved over...

My question is:
1) Can the council actually peek over the high walls into my garden without giving me notice of their intent? Seems like an invasion of privacy.
2) I don't see how they could have done the same to my neighbours. They would have to enter though the front door to access the garden - so I feel like I have been singled out.
3) Is the overhanging tree my responsibility or the neighbours
4) Do the council have the right to ask me to clean up my yard. Sure, it might not be pretty.... but no-one can actually see it and it poses no health hazard.

According to their website - their mandate is public areas. So any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading this rather rambling post.

I_have_spoken

The thing is there is nothing there to really clean up

And although you're in Germany, you know this because...

There could well be a rodent infestation, so the Environmental Health certainly can take action and invoice you.

I'm not really into maintenance...

Your tenants may well have called the Council if they think you're a dodgy LL.

nickj_2

if it's a private house and not causing a major health hazard then i would have thought it's none of the business
you have the right to trim your neighbour's trees , only the bits that are over hanging your yard ,

System

yes they can ,im guess someone has complained about the state of it. Maybe the tennents are not as clean and tidy as you think.

confused_landlord

THe tenants sent photos of the yard from every conceivable angle...
There is nothing there, but what I mentioned...

I have a cleaner who cleans the property bi-monthly. She also keeps me informed of the status of the property/tenants. The house is a licenced house of multiple occupation - so the council inspected it 2 years ago etc.

No mention has been made of a rodent infestation.

I will write to the council asking for more details on what exactly is their issue.

Clearly, there are leaves and debris on the floor, from my neighbours trees. But, I think it's odd they go around intervening in an issue like this.

pimento

One man's tidy is another man's messy. Can you post a picture?

justjohn

on the face off it...it does not seem rite....

Council needs a reason to tell you to tidy it..usually a health risk/eye sore

-taff

it's concievable they sent it to the wrong address.

confused_landlord

pimento wrote: »

One man's tidy is another man's messy. Can you post a picture?

Lets assume, for arguments sake that it is messy. As stated in the post - I would not say that it is pretty. That was not my question at all. My question is: If it is not visible to the general public, would they have a right to insist that I clean it up?
They have not detailed their concerns....

I went to their website and their mandate clearly states 'to keep any publicly owned space clean, safe and environmentally friendly'. This is a privately owned, freehold property!!

Mankysteve

If its just over grown then they shouldn't be a problem but they can get involved if your garden represent a health hazard. I would suspect either its a mix up or as others have said your tenents are not as clean as there telling you. They may have had a clean up before they took the pictures they sent you.

Come on let us see the pics and we can give you a proper opinion.

Your best bet is to either email/call the environment health yourself or ask your tenets to do so.

Ectophile

confused_landlord wrote: »

Lets assume, for arguments sake that it is messy. As stated in the post - I would not say that it is pretty. That was not my question at all. My question is: If it is not visible to the general public, would they have a right to insist that I clean it up?
They have not detailed their concerns....

I went to their website and their mandate clearly states 'to keep any publicly owned space clean, safe and environmentally friendly'. This is a privately owned, freehold property!!

If it's causing a public nuisance, then yes. It seems that the council believe that it is causing a serious problem for the neighbours, even if you don't. A public nuisance could include leaking drains, or rubbish that's attracting rodents, for instance.

It sounds like you need a trusted representative in the UK to speak with the council to find out what they really think is the problem, and what needs doing.