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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who's responsibility is it?

15 replies

CarolineKate · 17/09/2019 21:04

Wasn't sure where to put this so I've put it here.

When I moved into my rented house there was quite a lot of ivy on the fence in the back garden. Now I'm moved in my landlord has asked me to kill and remove the ivy because he's afraid it's going to damage the fence.

Am I right in thinking this is something that he should sort or hire someone to sort?

It's no small task. It is a LOT of ivy. And I like the look of it anyway so I would purely be doing it for him not me.

Also the fence is wobbly. Won't it just fall down if I get rid of it? But that is just a side gardening question. My real question is is my landlord being cheeky asking me to do it or is it my task to do?

OP posts:
Whitejasmine · 17/09/2019 21:13

your landlord sounds like a cheeky beggar. You’ve only just moved in and he’s asking you to remove the ivy?! That’s his job - my dh is a landlord and he would never ask a tenant to do something like this. And if you damage the fence he may try to hold you liable. Tell him no it’s his responsibility.

purpleme12 · 17/09/2019 21:22

I'm not sure. Does it class as gardening? Ie keeping the garden tidy? Cos I know that's in tenancy agreements.

It does annoy me. My garden has a jungle of weeds growing and I literally can't keep up. I can't pull them all out at all. I'm not bothered about gardening and never will be I just hate the weeds that come everywhere and get out of control. I rent as well

MsSquiz · 17/09/2019 21:35

You could suggest that you'd be happy to get some quotes from gardeners/a handyperson who could carry out the job, and send them over to him?

Keeping a garden tidy is different to removing a large amount of ivy that was clearly there long before you moved in. It's not the same as garden maintenance.

Hooferdoofer37 · 17/09/2019 21:42

How long have you been in the property?

If you've only been there a few weeks it's definitely your landlords responsibility to sort.

If there was a bit of Ivy 5 years ago when you moved in and now there's loads which is potentially damaging the fence, then you shouldn't have let it get to that state and it's your responsibility (I would say).

mummylollypop · 17/09/2019 21:48

we had ivy on the front of our house and we just cut across just above the root.The ivy died and we were able just to pull it off like wallpaper we then we killed the roots with weed killer

Original poster
CarolineKate · 17/09/2019 21:53

Thank you for the responses! We've been here a couple of months and I have been cutting it back so there is no more ivy than the day we moved in.

I just wasn't sure if it came under the gardening stated in contract or not (cutting grass every 2 weeks etc) which we do keep to.

I might give it a go and if its not easy I will mention to him about hiring someone!

OP posts:
Suze1621 · 17/09/2019 22:12

A few days after my son moved into a rented property he received a letter from the Council about a hedge overthrowing onto the pavement. He contacted the letting agent and basically said this needed addressing by the landlord and he would maintain it going forward. Landlord agreed.

Travis1 · 17/09/2019 22:13

Don’t start it! Once you start you’re taking responsibility for it. Tell him it’s his issue and you won’t be doing it. Cheeky fucking git

blaaake · 17/09/2019 22:14

Landlord here. It's not your responsibility. As above I would tell him you're happy to get quotes and send them over to him.

Bluntness100 · 17/09/2019 22:14

You don't need to cut it back. Cut the base of it. The rest will die off. It's not a big job. Just cut with some secateurs or loppers along the base. Job done.

LiveRightNow · 17/09/2019 23:02

Not your responsibility if you are keeping it at level it was when you moved in. In fact if the ivy is damaging your fence you probably have good reason to ask the landlord to remove it. (But if your contract has a gardening clause, if you do have any photos of the garden when you moved in I suggest you keep them to "prove" you haven't just let a bit if ivy get out of control).

pinkstripeycat · 18/09/2019 09:19

As long as you keep and leave the house and garden as you found it you are not liable to remove the ivy. Make sure you take pics of everything (walls, skirting etc) and make an inventory of marks and damage so you have evidence of how the property was when you moved in (LL should have done this). LL should have removed ivy before you moved in and it’s his responsibility now. If the fence comes down he will make you pay for it. Don’t touch it

Grambler · 18/09/2019 09:25

If you remove all the ivy, and it turns out that was all that was keeping the fence up - is he going to try and get you to pay for the damage to the fence?

You could offer to keep it at bay once he's got a professional in to remove it.

TheTrollFairy · 18/09/2019 09:28

My MIL rents out a house and she’s responsible for major gardening so I suspect it will be down to what your tenancy says

MountPheasant · 18/09/2019 09:41

I would message LL and say 'the Ivy is getting out of hand, can you sort someone to come and take care of it? Let me know suggested dates and I will try and accomodate'

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