Renting: what can/ should we do?

We are renting the house on long term basis and initially the landlord agreed to "sort out" the shabby permanent fixtures of the back and front gardens. We agreed he'll replace the pebbles in the front (currently a weed meadow decorated with some pebbles and 4 raised beds nicely planted by ehem... me) and redo the horrid, cracked, patchy cement area in the back.

In 2 years he has put up the 2 missing fenceposts in the front and that's all.

As tenants, we don't want to put too much of our money on permanent fixtures (especially as we were promised they will be done by the LL), however I'm getting a bit desperate with the gardens.

What, in general, are tenants' obligations and rights when it comes to gardens? I understand it's an obligation to keep the property tidy, inside and out, how far does that go? If somebody complains about the sorry state of the front garden (between my wonderful beds), who's responsability is it?

Any comments on rented gardens are more than welcome, thank you in advance!

 

It should all be in your tennancy agreement Sellery.
Have a read and see what it says.

 

We were in rented accommodation. Intended to stay there one year, wound up staying seven years ...

... we took the viewpoint that we would do whatever we felt we would do if it was our own home, in case we wound up staying longer than expected. Turned out to be the right decision ...

... landlord benefited - if not from any value, then from having tenants that looked after the property.

We didn't gain anything, financially, but the place looked nice when we had people round and so on.

Not unlike clearing an allotment, and enriching the soil, but getting no payback from any subsequent tenant I suppose ...

Them's the choices one makes in life ...

 

I live in a rented flat, and apart from brightening up my windowsill with herbs, I have recently "branched out" onto the patio, which doubles as a driveway. The landlady was reluctant as previous gardeners have tended to leave plants overgrown and neglected when they leave, but I really sold my pitch, and began potting up nasturtiums, Lysimachia, Crocosmia x crocosiimia, Erodium and various other plants. To begin with I watered them with an empty coke bottle before getting my hands on a watering can. Now, all of the plants are in flower, and that side of the garden is full of colour now and attracting birds, bees and colourful wildlife. Other tennants and neighbours, who I feared would resent it (stray leaves, weeds, slugs, etc) often comment onhow much prettier and more interesting the garden now looks.

 

"Other tennants and neighbours .. often comment onhow much prettier and more interesting the garden now looks"

Good for you :thumb:

 

Did the landlord give you written details (an additional clauses page attached to the tenancy agreement) stating his intentions to what he was going to repair/replace in the garden ? or was it all verbal ?

If it was written then you can either write to him formally with a copy of the agreed clauses asking for a time limit to be set for these repairs to be carried out. If rented through a letting agent then I would also suggest contacting them as this is what they get paid for !

If done verbally, its very difficult to prove who actually said what - so you will probably find the landlord will do nothing as he hasnt already done it.

As a letting agent - it is the tenants responsibility to make sure they adhere to the tenancy agreement and whatever conditions are required (ie read tenancy agreement to see whats actually stated in there) but generally its just to keep the grass cut, and the borders weeded. Some landlords will state that you cannot alter anything in the garden at all which includes removing any shrubs or even planting anything new.

As a previous tenant - I rented for 7/8 years and spend a small fortune on the house. Reason being, as Kristen stated .... it was my home and I wanted it too look nice. Anything we did, we got written permission for from the landlord so that way there is no come back years down the line.

I would though say to start off very friendly in trying to get the landlord to go any major works, as sometime if you go in 'all guns blazing' the landlord will just choose not to renew the tenancy at the end of term if tenants are too demanding and going to cost them too much money. Sad but VERY true!

With regards to any complaints - if the garden is not kept then this is the tenants responsibility and complaints will be reffered back to the tenants with a notice from the landlord to either adhere to the tenancy agreement or quit the tenancy.

If its structural things the neighbours complain too then the landlord can be forced by the local council to have these works carried out. They are though usually for things like blown down fences (and then the tenants dog pooping in the neighbours garden because the landlord has refused to spend out for new fences) .... but most commanly for landlord who refuses to repair items inside the property as a lot of this comes down to health and safety issues.

Hope this helps