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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not paying for garden work

808 replies

gardendramas5 · 16/05/2025 09:24

I’m pretty sure I’m not being unreasonable but I just want to see what other people think.

I purchased my house December last year. It was empty for at least 2 years (ex rental)

The previous owners kept the front and back garden tidy whilst it was on the market, no idea if it was them that did the work or if they paid someone. Both gardens are quite large. I started doing all of this myself when I took ownership.

Anyway, I’ve been away for the last week with family and came home on Wednesday to freshly cut grass, weeds pulled etc. I asked my neighbours if they had seen anyone but they were at work. It turns out that the previous owners hired a company to do the work and hadn’t notified them that they’d sold the house last year. I only found this out yesterday as the gardener turned up with the invoice. I explained I wasn’t aware of this arrangement and that he would have to invoice the previous owners for the work (I was polite and apologised for the inconvenience but made it clear I hadn’t asked for this work to be done and wasn’t prepared to pay for it either)

He knocked on again this morning and explained that he’d spoken to them yesterday and that they agreed to pay half (because it was their error) but that I should pay the rest because I’m the one benefiting from the work. I told him no sorry I’m not paying and he needs to take it up with them.

I do feel bad for the gardener, but it’s their fault. I didn't ask for this. They were awkward during the conveyancing process too so this doesn’t surprise me. AIBU?

OP posts:
AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:54

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 22:26

I have presented reasoned opinions, not ranted.

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You have been told by multiple people why your opinions are based on erroneous grasp of the facts and and a complete lack of logical process.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 16/05/2025 22:51

YANBU

I wouldn't pay it. I enjoy gardening like you. You didn't ask for it, not your fault, you can't undo his service and give it back to him, so there's really nothing you can do.

Surely he must have noticed that it had been done recently though and thought to check with who he thought the owner still was?!

Anyway, nope, I wouldn't pay, this is on the previous owners. I'd be polite to him about it to keep relations good, but his contract wasn't with you, nor did you require or want his services.

You haven't "benefitted" from his service because it was a task you would have enjoyed doing yourself.

SwingTheMonkey · 16/05/2025 22:48

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 22:26

I have presented reasoned opinions, not ranted.

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Are the reasoned opinions in the room with us?

RawBloomers · 16/05/2025 22:43

You absolutely should not pay, OP.

You could let the gardener know that if a witness statement would help him if he wishes to sue the previous owners, you'd be happy to provide.

HunnyPot · 16/05/2025 22:27

Contract is with the previous owner so contacts them for payment.

If he persists with you I’d tell him you will ask him for payment for getting use of your garden when you were away.

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 22:26

AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:23

Again, an absolutely killer response. Well done!

Now, do you want to actually present a coherent argument? I know you've failed consistently to do so for several hours but I am an optimist at heart.

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I have presented reasoned opinions, not ranted.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:23

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 22:13

Jeez...have you got a voodoo doll of the gardener? Crikey.

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Again, an absolutely killer response. Well done!

Now, do you want to actually present a coherent argument? I know you've failed consistently to do so for several hours but I am an optimist at heart.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:15

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 21:39

I agree, but in my experience they dont check - I can see how this would happen. And the OP has the benefit of a tidied garden. I would be annoyed but with the previous owners, not him, and I would pay.

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The gardener needs to stop hassling the OP and demand the money the previous owners owe him. If you are annoyed with them why would you pay their bill?

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 22:13

AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:11

The OP hasn't had any benefit either! How many times do you need telling this! She didn't want it done, she does it herself.
The value we place on someone doing a job for us, even if that job needs doing, is very much dependent on how much we like or dislike that job and how much we value time compared to money. People who have gardeners dislike gardening and have more money than time. The OP doesn't. Therefore, no benefit accrued, certainly not a benefit that the fucking gardener gets to put a price on. Is that clear now, or do you want to go on again about people being in contracts with houses?

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Jeez...have you got a voodoo doll of the gardener? Crikey.

butteredradish4 · 16/05/2025 22:12

i wouldn't pay. If you didn't request the service you can't be expected to pay for it. Maybe I should set up a business going round moving peoples lawns when they are out and then demanding payment for it.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 22:11

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 21:14

I said she may be morally obliged. It's an omission on the part of the previous owner. The OP has hardly suffered a detriment. If he had changed the face of the garden, I might think differently. He's spruced it up.

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The OP hasn't had any benefit either! How many times do you need telling this! She didn't want it done, she does it herself.
The value we place on someone doing a job for us, even if that job needs doing, is very much dependent on how much we like or dislike that job and how much we value time compared to money. People who have gardeners dislike gardening and have more money than time. The OP doesn't. Therefore, no benefit accrued, certainly not a benefit that the fucking gardener gets to put a price on. Is that clear now, or do you want to go on again about people being in contracts with houses?

SouthLondonMum22 · 16/05/2025 21:45

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 21:39

I agree, but in my experience they dont check - I can see how this would happen. And the OP has the benefit of a tidied garden. I would be annoyed but with the previous owners, not him, and I would pay.

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OP didn't want the service, she is happy to tidy her garden herself. If they don't check, it's on them and a risk they take.

SwingTheMonkey · 16/05/2025 21:41

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 21:14

I said she may be morally obliged. It's an omission on the part of the previous owner. The OP has hardly suffered a detriment. If he had changed the face of the garden, I might think differently. He's spruced it up.

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She has suffered a detriment because she’s had work done she didn’t want - she actually prefers to do it herself - and is now expected to pay for it.

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 21:39

SouthLondonMum22 · 16/05/2025 21:01

It is partly his fault. After several months you should check to see if it is still required.

It isn't OP's fault that he didn't check.

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I agree, but in my experience they dont check - I can see how this would happen. And the OP has the benefit of a tidied garden. I would be annoyed but with the previous owners, not him, and I would pay.

Skandar · 16/05/2025 21:33

Funnyduck60 · 16/05/2025 19:00

YABU. You don't care about the gardener either. You've had a bargin. Bet you get paid no matter what.

How can you possibly know whether she's "had a bargin"? For all you know he's pulled out a few weeds, spent ten minutes mowing a tiny patch of lawn that didn't need mowing as is now asking for £300.

BeanieA · 16/05/2025 21:23

Previous owners are liable. End of.

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 21:15

AthWat · 16/05/2025 21:05

I lost some money the other day. It wasn't my fault, it was plainly this other person's. They've only given me half of it back though, would you pay me the other half?

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🙄

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 21:14

AthWat · 16/05/2025 21:02

If one might argue that the OP is morally obliged to pay, why haven't you actually come up with any halfway decent argument to show where that moral obligation comes from that isn't based on "oh, the poor gardener". The "poor gardener" might pull in three times as much money as the OP.

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I said she may be morally obliged. It's an omission on the part of the previous owner. The OP has hardly suffered a detriment. If he had changed the face of the garden, I might think differently. He's spruced it up.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 21:05

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 20:57

I would pay the half. Its not his fault he is in this position.

I lost some money the other day. It wasn't my fault, it was plainly this other person's. They've only given me half of it back though, would you pay me the other half?

AthWat · 16/05/2025 21:02

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 20:37

The circumstances are completely different. One might argue the OP only maybe morally obliged to pay. The OAPs are neither legally nor morally obliged.

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If one might argue that the OP is morally obliged to pay, why haven't you actually come up with any halfway decent argument to show where that moral obligation comes from that isn't based on "oh, the poor gardener". The "poor gardener" might pull in three times as much money as the OP.

SouthLondonMum22 · 16/05/2025 21:01

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 20:57

I would pay the half. Its not his fault he is in this position.

It is partly his fault. After several months you should check to see if it is still required.

It isn't OP's fault that he didn't check.

BrickBiscuit · 16/05/2025 21:00

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 20:57

I would pay the half. Its not his fault he is in this position.

That’s generous. I hope the gardener says thank you when he receives your money.

Hotflushesandchilblains · 16/05/2025 20:57

I would pay the half. Its not his fault he is in this position.

SwingTheMonkey · 16/05/2025 20:44

Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 20:37

The circumstances are completely different. One might argue the OP only maybe morally obliged to pay. The OAPs are neither legally nor morally obliged.

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Why is she morally obliged though?! She has nothing to do with the agreement and didn’t want it. She prefers doing her own gardening. There’s only a moral obligation if you’re a mug and don’t think the gardener should pursue the previous owners for the work they had the contract with the gardener for.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 20:40

terracelane23 · 16/05/2025 20:32

No we wouldn’t. In our case, we messaged asking if the house had sold over Winter. It had but the sale hadn’t completed so the owner asked us to carry on with our usual fortnightly visit. They said they would tell us when the sale had completed. We did our visits and messaged after each one as we usually do. After one visit, they messaged back to say that house had new owners. They immediately apologised for not telling us and paid the bill. I agree that communication in this case has been poor, but it was the responsibility of the previous owner to inform the gardener and to pay this bill in my view.

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I agree, although the gardener could have helped himself by messaging to ask about the sale, as you did. There's some chance, I believe, that a court might hold that as a reasonable grounds for the previous owner to withhold a part of the payment. But obviously that's all nothing to do with the OP.