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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask my neighbour to tidy their garden before viewings?

30 replies

RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 19:24

I’m selling my detached house, valued at £385,000 (not sure if that’s relevant) It’s a relatively new-build property, so the houses are fairly close together.
My next-door neighbour’s garden is currently very overgrown, particularly the grass, and it will be quite noticeable when viewings start and in the estate agent’s photos.
Would I be unreasonable to politely ask them if they would mind cutting the grass before my house goes on the market? Alternatively, would it be reasonable to offer to cut it for them myself, so they don’t feel I’m asking them to do work purely for my benefit?
I obviously don’t want to offend them or create any awkwardness, but I’m conscious that first impressions matter when selling a house.
What would you do?

OP posts:
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UsernameHoarder · 29/08/2026 00:54

If you do go and mow, beware the dog shit and be prepared to do a poo patrol.

Original poster
RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 22:10

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/08/2026 22:08

She's trying to sell her house and scruffy neighbour gardens are not conducive to that.

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Yup - correct! Thanks x

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/08/2026 22:08

MyArtfulGreySloth · 28/08/2026 20:35

No the price isn’t relevant and you have absolutely no right to ask them to tidy! How rude and entitled.

She's trying to sell her house and scruffy neighbour gardens are not conducive to that.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/08/2026 22:06

A friend is selling ... hes mowed two adjacent gardens! Its rubbish I know.

Original poster
RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 21:46

Maray1967 · 28/08/2026 20:10

If your potential buyers are like me they will ask you if any of the neighbours have a large aggressive dog and you need to answer honestly. There is no way I’m living next to an XL bully or similar.

Edited
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Fair point. I’ve only ever seen it twice (its a German shepherd not an XL Bully) and they told me last week it probably only has a few weeks left to live so it might not be an issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 21:44

XenoBitch · 28/08/2026 21:01

Why are estate agents taking photos of neighbour's gardens?

They’re not, I mean for when people come and view

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 28/08/2026 21:01

Why are estate agents taking photos of neighbour's gardens?

weebleswobblebuttheydontfallover · 28/08/2026 20:56

TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 20:47

I would not be comfortable having my neighbour tidy my garden but would be happy for a professional to do it. Mind you, I would not let my garden get so run down unless I had a serious health condition.

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Makes perfect sense. It’s just that the OP only suggested mowing their grass, not doing other gardening tasks. I think a gardener would be overkill for that.

FannybygaslightinGovan · 28/08/2026 20:49

I'd bite the hand off you if you wanted to cut my grass OP. No matter the reason.

TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 20:47

weebleswobblebuttheydontfallover · 28/08/2026 20:44

Why a gardener instead of OP offering to cut it herself as she suggested?

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I would not be comfortable having my neighbour tidy my garden but would be happy for a professional to do it. Mind you, I would not let my garden get so run down unless I had a serious health condition.

weebleswobblebuttheydontfallover · 28/08/2026 20:44

TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 20:43

Offer to pay for gardener.

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Why a gardener instead of OP offering to cut it herself as she suggested?

weebleswobblebuttheydontfallover · 28/08/2026 20:43

MyArtfulGreySloth · 28/08/2026 20:35

No the price isn’t relevant and you have absolutely no right to ask them to tidy! How rude and entitled.

lol have you run out of things to be outraged about today? 🤣

TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 20:43

RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 19:24

I’m selling my detached house, valued at £385,000 (not sure if that’s relevant) It’s a relatively new-build property, so the houses are fairly close together.
My next-door neighbour’s garden is currently very overgrown, particularly the grass, and it will be quite noticeable when viewings start and in the estate agent’s photos.
Would I be unreasonable to politely ask them if they would mind cutting the grass before my house goes on the market? Alternatively, would it be reasonable to offer to cut it for them myself, so they don’t feel I’m asking them to do work purely for my benefit?
I obviously don’t want to offend them or create any awkwardness, but I’m conscious that first impressions matter when selling a house.
What would you do?

Offer to pay for gardener.

MyArtfulGreySloth · 28/08/2026 20:35

No the price isn’t relevant and you have absolutely no right to ask them to tidy! How rude and entitled.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 28/08/2026 20:34

What’s wrong with their garden being overgrown? As long as it’s not full of rubbish or some other health hazard then it’s just a natural garden.

DilemmaDelilah · 28/08/2026 20:30

I've often wondered about this. Our neighbours do NOTHING with their garden, except maybe strimming the weeds down once a year or so. Our garden is by no means perfect, but we do what we can to make it look attractive and we keep the front area neat and tidy so that it has kerb appeal that benefits our neighbours as well as ourselves.

I think if we ever need to sell our house I think we will have to offer to have their garden tidied up for them for the photos and then to keep it under control while we're trying to sell.

ConstantlyFuriosa · 28/08/2026 20:19

Is it possible they’re rewilding?

rwalker · 28/08/2026 20:15

Cut yours and then give them a knock and offer to cut there’s

Maray1967 · 28/08/2026 20:10

RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 19:39

They are a mid forties couple who work from home, no children but they do have a big aggressive dog (which they only take out by putting it in the boot of the car at night time) and driving it somewhere. They told me when they moved in it was aggressive to everyone except them and that they’d keep it out of my way (which they have done in fairness)
The man is very friendly and chats but the lady has some mental health issues (the husband told me that) So she only leaves the house on an evening when they take the dog out.
I’ll try and catch him in passing rather than knocking then maybe it seems less pressured.

If your potential buyers are like me they will ask you if any of the neighbours have a large aggressive dog and you need to answer honestly. There is no way I’m living next to an XL bully or similar.

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/08/2026 20:07

ErrolTheDragon · 28/08/2026 19:34

If that’s the typical state of their garden (not just a temporary thing eg due to ill health) then YABU to try to make potential buyers think your neighbourhood is more attractive than it really is.

I agree.

Poppins2016 · 28/08/2026 19:51

My neighbours have offered to cut the small hedge between our front gardens when it's become a little scruffy and we were deep in the newborn baby trenches. We were never offended, just grateful.

I'll add that we usually keep on top of it, but it's a thug of a hedge that grows fast and should never have been planted by the previous owners in the first place (note to anyone interested: cornus aka dogwood is really not an appropriate choice for a (s)low growing and easy to maintain formal hedge)!

I don't see anything wrong with suggesting doing it yourself as a favour.

Original poster
RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 19:40

ErrolTheDragon · 28/08/2026 19:34

If that’s the typical state of their garden (not just a temporary thing eg due to ill health) then YABU to try to make potential buyers think your neighbourhood is more attractive than it really is.

They only moved in around four months ago so maybe they just haven’t got round to it yet . Or maybe once they see how nice it looks they’ll keep on top of it and they’ll benefit too

OP posts:
Original poster
RaspberryRoad · 28/08/2026 19:39

They are a mid forties couple who work from home, no children but they do have a big aggressive dog (which they only take out by putting it in the boot of the car at night time) and driving it somewhere. They told me when they moved in it was aggressive to everyone except them and that they’d keep it out of my way (which they have done in fairness)
The man is very friendly and chats but the lady has some mental health issues (the husband told me that) So she only leaves the house on an evening when they take the dog out.
I’ll try and catch him in passing rather than knocking then maybe it seems less pressured.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 28/08/2026 19:34

If that’s the typical state of their garden (not just a temporary thing eg due to ill health) then YABU to try to make potential buyers think your neighbourhood is more attractive than it really is.

MinnieMountain · 28/08/2026 19:32

There's no harm in offering. Just don't send an anonymous letter like our former neighbour did.

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