Garden Maintenance

danlewi2

Read my post - clearly i have done a lot of gardening that is not the issue.

lookstraightahead

It's your home while you are in it so your responsibility - you could get a Gardner in if you are happy to pay for it.

Morbier

I'm with Cakeguts on this one - if you don't like gardening, even basic maintenance, why on earth rent a house with a garden? Buying a pair of shears and cutting back some shrubs twice a year isn't going to impinge on your life greatly. If the rest of the garden was overgrown when you moved in, then you can hand it back, when you leave, in a similar overgrown state. Take photos for the record.
Then move to a flat. Simples. (I speak from the point of view of someone who rents and wouldn't live anywhere without a garden, so I think I know how little work is involved in basic maintenance).

danlewi2

Right - to make it clear I like Gardening - as I have already stated many times before. This isnt a few shrubs its a 100ft of well developed holly bushes - so I was asking the opinion if this went beyond basic maintenance.
Our next door neighbours also rent and their landlord has a gardener come into do the basics cutting the grass, so some landlords must appreciate that not all tenants do this.

quantumlobster

Your neighbours' tenancy agreement is not your tenancy agreement.

You signed one that said you'd keep it tidy. Not one that said you'd keep it tidy except for the bits you didn't want to do.

Get trimming!

AdrianC

danlewi2 wrote: »

Our next door neighbours also rent and their landlord has a gardener come into do the basics cutting the grass, so some landlords must appreciate that not all tenants do this.

Maybe that's something to consider on looking for your next property?

Is that work reflected in the rent they pay?

datostar

Holly's slow growing stuff. You won't be trimming it every weekend.

saajan_12

danlewi2 wrote: »

We moved into our rented property in December 2016, the rear Garden was over grown with weeds and brambles before we moved it however these were cleared down to the ground prior to us moving in. - who cleared this: you or the LL? If it was the LL, then you should return the garden cleared as the LL left it. As it was winter nothing really grew so was not an issue until the spring when the weeds/brambles began to reappear. - yes, stuff grows in a garden. Regular maintenance is the tenant's responsibility. We reported this to our letting agent who said they would discuss it with the Landlord, this went on for a number of weeks, we were advised that the landlord was speaking to their gardener however nothing happened. - some letting agents and even landlords don't know their responsibilities so sounds like the LA just passed on the message rather than responding to you straight away. However no need for them to do anything. So eventually I hired a petrol brush cutter and cleared it all back with help of family. We also cut back he bushes that border our driveway and one side of the rear garden. The condition of the back garden is now much improved after some heavy weeding by myself and some good grass care. - was a bigger job because you left it so late, but trimming a little at a time as soon as they started growing would have been much easier. Regular maintenance, weeding, grass care is your responsibility just like cleaning.

Is it unreasonable to ask the Landlord to contract gardeners to maintain the bushes that border one side of the rear garden (approx 80ft) and either side of our front garden? - yes, unless you're willing to pay the price he asks to work as your gardener. I dont really want to purchase a hedge trimmer and spend a majority of my weekend doing this. - I don't like spending time cleaning the tops of my cupboards, but alas no household chores fairy to do it for me.

Garden maintenance is the tenant's responsibility like cleaning.

1) The LL certainly does NOT have to maintain it for your benefit.

2) You DO have to return it in the same or better condition as you received it, plus comply with any terms in your agreement to maintain the garden.

parkrunner

danlewi2 wrote: »

Right - to make it clear I like Gardening - as I have already stated many times before. This isnt a few shrubs its a 100ft of well developed holly bushes - so I was asking the opinion if this went beyond basic maintenance.
Our next door neighbours also rent and their landlord has a gardener come into do the basics cutting the grass, so some landlords must appreciate that not all tenants do this.

Which is why we find out prior to moving in.

InterestedParty2018

To the OP, my view is that the maintenance of the garden is the tenants responsibility, within reason.
I add this caveat because if there was a 40ft tree within a large garden which required crowning/lopping/reducing etc, then I would think the landlord should undertake this work.
Normal growth of the Holly bush, which *can* be kept under control with basic maintenance should be a tenant responsibility... as it is my opinion, this is simply a routine function, despite it being almost 100ft.

Others will get annoyed with me for always saying this - but "hindsight is a wonderful thing". If any other tenant is reading this prior to taking up a tenancy for a property with a garden - if you have any concerns regarding the maintaining obligations and/or the supply of equipment to maintain the garden/trees/shrubs etc ask BEFORE you commit.

Out of interest, do you have a lawn too? Did the landlord supply a mower/strimmer etc?