Rental property - Garden/Weed issues - who's responsible?

Spreadsheetman

A good repeated spraying with Glyphosate will do the trick. Get some of the unbranded commercial grade stuff from companies that supply to the trade as it is much cheaper than the branded products.

In my last property I use to have problems with weeds coming through the gap where a concrete path ran alongside the house. Two good sprayings with glyphosate and that was that for the last couple of years I lived there.

Phoenix_35

The garden is the tenants responsibility to keep neat and tidy. Use vinegar it's much cheaper than weed killer and works quicker. Do a once over to remove the dead weeds. Cover areas with cardboard and some new membraine on top. Could even dig up all the existing shingle/gravel and place this on top or get new ones. 

Skiddaw1

Phoenix_35 said:

The garden is the tenants responsibility to keep neat and tidy. Use vinegar it's much cheaper than weed killer and works quicker. Do a once over to remove the dead weeds. Cover areas with cardboard and some new membraine on top. Could even dig up all the existing shingle/gravel and place this on top or get new ones. 

Depends on how big the garden is. The OP talked of a front and rear garden. It could be a substantial area.

Skiddaw1

RAS said:

Skiddaw1 said:

@pinkshoes , a weedburner is an excellent suggestion! I've never used one but having seen them in action I can imagine that, like pressure-washing, it's one of those 'best fun you can have legally' activities.

Please do not use a weed burner in the current situation. A garden that's not been weeded this summer is going to have so much dry tinder, it's really dangerous.

There's been grass fires all over the world, including England. One was apparently set off by someone trying to burn a spider?

In the UK, barbies and reportedly an attempt to burn an abandoned sofa destroyed several houses.

Weed wands are great, used early in the season to knock back small weeds in hard surfaces. Not in this situation.

You're quite right @RAS.

Up here in Cumbria we've had a fair amount of rain and everything is still relatively green and unparched, so I rather blanked the fire risk. Our grass is still in need of a cut at least once per week whereas by contrast, friends in Berkshire haven't cut their lawn for well over two months. Amazing how different it is.

Not that I have a weed gun anyhow (or need one as it happens).