Is my LL being unreasonable? Diagram attached.

[Tenant17]

Hi everyone, Name changed as this is identifying!

We live in a block of flats at the side of a very busy main road. We live at the front of the property and there's a large garden at the back, accessible via the public pavement. My DD is starting to walk and summer will soon be here and we want to use the garden as much as possible.

We have asked our LL to put a gate to make the garden more secure and to stop members of the public wandering in. I know a gate won't stop thieves but it might stop nosey buggars!

Anyway LL has point blank refused, I think he's being U. Is he? We've even offered to cover the cost of a gate!

She's offered to pay for the gate.

So the other flat owners would have to go through the gate to get to their properties? The garden is not really accessible by the public unless they walked down the path past the bins, is it, so I don't think that is a justifiable reason? If you are worried about your DD running out that's not a very persuasive reason for the LL to incur ongoing maintenance on an item everyone has managed without until now.

You have beautiful hand writing.

I assume that this gate would make access for all of the 2 storey residents difficult. How do you get ot the garden? Along the pavement?

I assume that this is just an admin hassle the LL doesn't want, regardless of the fairly insignificant price.

It doesn't seem like the gate would make much difference for you.It's not like your daughter is 5 and you'd let her down there by herself for football / tag with her friends. You'll be there and able to stop her getting onto the road in plenty of time.

Could you install a standard baby gate with an in-built gate so you and the other neighbours can walk through? If you use one where the 4 corners screw out agains the brick it won't damage the brick work.

On the face of it, it doesnt sound unreasonable. BUT as a landlord with several properties and tenants, there is always someone asking to do something. Many of these things arent unreasonable, but it all takes time, effort, energy, money - to say yes or no, or to check exactly what they want or to specify x or y, to organise or to pay for it or pay for it to be put right when they leave or to change when a new tenant doesnt like it......

Sometimes its just easier to refuse all requests for changes due to personal preferences and to leave as is.

I agree with Sunnyshores. As a LL also, even if the tenant is paying, it's the hassle factor - getting quotes, arranging for the work to be done etc etc. If the OP offers to do everything as is just letting the LL know it is being done then that's fine and I can't see the LL objecting.

I think it's unreasonable though to expect the LL to do everything except stump up the cash.

YABU - his flats, his choice. Just one more thing to maintain for him.

We had a similar situation for similar reasons. LL said no. We bought two round fence poles and a length of chicken wire type fencing to go in between and just put the gate in place when needed.

The wire can be wound around the poles and the gate stored elsewhere when not in use. Neighbours were in agreement as they had dc too.

Oh I missed that you had offered to pay for the gate, sorry.

Hi - Thabks for your responses.

Some point to clear up:

• Yes I've offered to pay
• Yes people do wander into the garden. I've had clothes stolen (now only use my tumble dryer) and every now and then there's kids there playing footy. Have also found a few dog turds

I didn't consider the maintainance but I would be happy with that, but I do understand now as some of you have pointed out, it isn't so straight forward!

You haven't mentioned how many people it would affect / need a key though.

Is it just flats #1 and 2 or more people?

Would a babygate work as per a PP's suggestion?

Sorry, I don't even want a lockable gate, just a normal garden gate would do. It would affect 1 and 2 only, there's only 4 flats here.

Do you just want a low level garden gate?

Sorry post re garden gate!
Where is bin access?

He sounds a little unreasonable but I can see why.

How about a very cheap gumtree metal gate? Check it with #1 and 2 but if it's held without drilling in the wall, I wouldn't bother telling the LL.

Sorry OP, you said you would pay for the gate - does this include all installation/labour costs?

Place marking for later as we're in a similar situation. Will be back later, might even do a diagram too!

I don't see any problem if your willing to fund it. Ours wasn't very secure so we asked if we could put a new one on. He was very happy for us to do that. Is there a particular reason he doesn't want a gate put on?
I don't thing its U of him to refuse to pay as he's not replacing a gate already there.