Landlord being petty

Kynthia

If you can keep things nice then do, but don't be a walkover. Remind her she's given you exclusive occupation of the property and you are entitled to live there without her interference. That you can leave the garden messy if you want as long as it's tidy when you hand back possession and that she is breaking the law and risking your lives by not getting the gas safety certificate done. She needs to let you live your lives and only come with 24 hours written notice otherwise you will refuse her entry. That you love living there and want to stay but that she needs to act like a professional landlord.

She would have to give you 2 months notice and get a court order if you didn't leave. Tge deposit scheme would adjudicate any deposit deductions you felt were unfair and she couldn't evidence. So don't worry.

tlc678910

You are right that your landlord could serve you notice but if she needs the place rented I don't think she would take finding new tenants, possibly having a void period and possibly having problem tenants lightly. That said I wouldn't provoke her by saying you can leave the garden as messy as you like. That is unecessary and doesn't reflect how you feel anyway.

I don't agree with comments that you can leave the garden as messy as you like as long as you put it back to state at end of tenancy. We are not talking about a repaint on a room. A garden that has been neglected cannot be put back to right overnight - it's not possible.

But that is by the by as you want to look after the garden. Perhaps ask to meet. Tell her you are committed to looking after the garden and that in future if there are extenuating circumstances why you cannot tend it for over two weeks (in peak growing season) you will ask a gardener to do a couple of hours on that occasion. That should reassure her. Then ask if you could just go over your list of outstanding (and urgent) maintenance....and if you could just ask for 24 hours notice of any visits, repairs please.

Good luck
Tlc

sniggings

remember it's just as scary for her to get new tenants.

Having the place empty until good new tenants are found, can take a couple of months.

Then they could turn out to be the worst tenants.

I would decide what you want, do you want to pay the extra? if not, get her over, explain the situation, tell her what you want and if she is not willing to offer it, look for somewhere else.

You really don't need to live like you are, with a LL coming over and complaining about long grass.

glasgowdan

A 2-3 week gap between garden work is perfectly normal and fine and won't see the garden out of control at all.

I'd be clear with her -write a letter/email with a few bullet points and then leave it at that.

csgohan4

I think the LL doesn't deserve someone like you. Move somewhere else and the LL will get her karma, a few weeks without rent and more trouble.


I would also report her for having no GSC. Make sure you have an inventory on starting the tenancy and take photos of the property if you leave.

Wakey123

Thank you all so much for the comments, it's really reassured me. My LL is now sending someone over to do the GSC today, so she obviously knows she was in the wrong and has to do it (four months late though)

We are still worried about her wanting to get rid of us, as she would get a new tenant within days for this house (any other property on the street is let within two days of going on the market)

I think I need to sit her down and ask her what the issues are with the garden in her mind, as both times she's seen them, they have only had a few weeds in them. I've got a feeling that its because we haven't added many plants ourselves, so even when they have been thoroughly done, they still look bare and slightly untidy. But I am not willing to pay a fortune to add plants when it's not our house.

We were hoping to be here long term, and she knows that. We've been here two and a half years already, and we weren't looking to move for at least another three, but all this has put a sour taste on it all.

[Deleted User]

In your position I would weigh up the stress caused by having a too invasive LL and the bother and expense of moving.

My LL didn't do repairs, felt like he could visit when he felt like (initially without even letting me know), would promise repairs and not do them and was quite bullying. Having moved out (which was an enormous stress, I moved into emergency accommodation) I can feel every day the relief from that stress. He'd threaten to evict me every time I asked for repairs as well so 'felt' less permanent than the licenced property I have now!

But moving out was so stressful too. I did everything I could to not be in the position I found myself. But now I am, and I am glad every day.

Problem is (awful though it is) you won't know if the next LL is going to be much better, LL's don't have to give references. But they should be, many LL's aren't as invasive.

Pixie5740

If you plan on being there longer term then during your discussions with your landlord you could suggest a new 12 or even 24 month fixed term contract. That would give you more security than you have now.

Some landlords seem to have problems letting go when it's their previous home they let out. They're too emotionally invested in the property. Sometimes though it's better the devil you know. Having a landlord who is a PITA can be a great motivational tool when saving to buy your own place.