Should we be charged for grass cutting

Shelldean

burtons wrote: »

I don't know what you pay for if you buy your house but the HA have said on their facebook page people who have bought their houses are no longer tenants which means they don't pay rent so we cannot charge them for the cutting of the grass

Our housing association does charge those who have brought of part brought service charges same as those who rent.


Which HA?

robin58

Burtons , get a life and get out more.

You moan about 29p. Bloody hell.

Also there are sometimes periods in a year where you dont cut grass due to weather and seasons. You don't cut grass over winter. You don't need to cut grass every week. It does need to grow you know!

ARandomMiser

How many residents are there and how long does it take to cut?

burtons

robin58 wrote: »

Burtons , get a life and get out more.

You moan about 29p. Bloody hell.

Also there are sometimes periods in a year where you dont cut grass due to weather and seasons. You don't cut grass over winter. You don't need to cut grass every week. It does need to grow you know!

So if you had no grass on your street but the next road over had a block of flats with grass under their windows you wouldn't mind paying to have it cut. These areas are classed as communal areas but I doubt it the tenant would be happy if I put my deck chair up under their window.

burtons

ARandomMiser wrote: »

How many residents are there and how long does it take to cut?

I know of 30 residents. It will take about 15 minutes max with a strimmer and that's getting it out and putting it back. My back garden is about 30 foot wide and 100 foot in length so it's a lot bigger than the piece of grass they cut and I don't use 5 litres of petrol a year.

vikingaero

burtons wrote: »

I know of 30 residents. It will take about 15 minutes max with a strimmer and that's getting it out and putting it back. My back garden is about 30 foot wide and 100 foot in length so it's a lot bigger than the piece of grass they cut and I don't use 5 litres of petrol a year.

Then offer to cut it for £xxx less!

Your analogy is the same as someone who compares the cost of a cup of coffee at home to that bought from Starbucks or a £1.50 frozen pizza from the supermarket vs. a £20 Dominos pizza. Sure there are differing costs because no-one else will do it.

Let's think: lawnmower, strimmer, fuel, replacment parts, servicing, vehicle, insurance, RFL, wages, pensions, office, electricity, computers, phones etc etc. These things aren't cheap anymore.

Would you be happy if your employer said to you: "You're only getting £10 a week for your job cutting grass because that's all one householder thinks you're worth."

Norman_Castle

burtons wrote: »

I don't know what you pay for if you buy your house but the HA have said on their facebook page people who have bought their houses are no longer tenants which means they don't pay rent so we cannot charge them for the cutting of the grass

A lot of privately owned homes pay service charges. Does the facebook comment refer specifically to the area outside your home?
Start by asking your home owning neighbours about the service charge increase.

Spartacus_Mills

burtons wrote: »

I rent my house from a housing association and we've received a letter for the rent increase but it's now showing we are being charged 3 pence for management charge for provision of services and 29 pence for grass cutting on land that the housing association owns.
A lot of people have gone on the housing association facebook page and had a moan so they put a link up to read about the changes.


As part of new legislation from Welsh Government the housing association now need to detail how your rent is being spent. We have always charged for these services, but in the past these have just been included within your rent amount. If you have been renting with us since April 2016 then you will pay an additional amount towards these services. If you have been renting with us before April 2016 these charges are already included within your rent. The reason for this difference is because our tenancy agreement changed for new tenants on this date.


The grass cutting charge is based on the amount spent looking after areas which belong to the housing association in your whole community. The total amount is then split equally between every house in your community. You will still need to maintain your own garden.

Yes, you should be charged for it.

ARandomMiser

burtons wrote: »

I know of 30 residents. It will take about 15 minutes max with a strimmer and that's getting it out and putting it back. My back garden is about 30 foot wide and 100 foot in length so it's a lot bigger than the piece of grass they cut and I don't use 5 litres of petrol a year.

Let us assume 30 residents all paying 29p each per week then that means the total cost is about £450 per year.

If we assume the chap works by himself and cuts the grass in 15 minutes, but then spends another 15 minutes to get to the next job and/or take any cuttings to the dump. If we assume 30 cuts per year. That equates to about £15 per cut or about £30 per hour - not exactly extortionate when you add in his fuel costs to get between jobs, fuel costs for his equipment, time for paperwork, tax returns etc. - plus I am sure your management company will take 10% or so out of the charges for admin purposes.

takman

burtons wrote: »

I don't know what you pay for if you buy your house but the HA have said on their facebook page people who have bought their houses are no longer tenants which means they don't pay rent so we cannot charge them for the cutting of the grass

Well then why don't you buy your house so then you won't have to pay for the grass cutting!. You also won't be throwing your money away each week in rent, instead you can be paying a mortgage and own the house!.