Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To expect to be asked about making changes to a shared garden

76 replies

Chester1980 · 30/05/2020 12:24

We live in a communal tenement with a shared garden. Our neighbours are lovely....but they’ve been making permanent changes to the garden without running it past several of us. It’s like mini land grabs. A raised vegetable plot, a brick BBQ, a massive trampoline, and we have overheard them talking about their next project....an outdoor room for the kids.

Am I being unreasonable to think this is a bit inconsiderate? I would never go ahead with something without asking everyone who has shared ownership.

How would you approach it without getting their backs up?

OP posts:

SuitedandBooted · 30/05/2020 15:10

You need to stop this. They are not lovely. They are being very inconsiderate and will devalue your property in the long run. I would be very wary of buying somewhere with a communal garden that has clearly been taken over by ONE household.

And as for the Garden Room!! If they get away with it, what's to stop 5/6/7 of the other householders deciding they also need a garden cabin as a home office (plenty of people want one now). The place could end up like a shanty town. You need some clear rules that apply to ALL households.

Have to say I am amazed there are no regulations at all about garden use - are you sure there's nothing attached to the deeds?

DingDongDenny · 30/05/2020 15:36

I would say to them that it isn't appropriate to have any shared items in the garden at the moment, due to risk of cross-infection. They all need be removed. Then the residents as a group can decide when and if they go back in the garden

Nanny0gg · 30/05/2020 15:52

There must be something in the deeds.

You need to re-read

And maybe call a Block meeting to discuss the garden going forward.

TerrapinStation · 30/05/2020 15:54

Is it garden and neighbour issues day today, did I miss the memo? This is the 3rd thread in sucession I've read

BelfryBat · 30/05/2020 16:00

I would have spoken to them some time ago because I hate gardens being overdeveloped. I'd be telling them no further projects at all, unless they involve only plants and no structures.

AlwaysCheddar · 30/05/2020 16:26

Set up a vegetable garden or plant flowers in the area where they want to build the outdoor room!

LevoMental · 30/05/2020 16:34

I've done a couple of things in my shared garden without asking the neighbours,however I have been careful not to take over the main areas and anything I have put out is small, can be taken down or moved easily and is not in the way.

I would never put anything as large or permanent as a trampoline and a BBQ out there and agree that if my neighbours were to do so I would feel pushed out and awkward.

Ours is a small space though, if your garden is large maybe they feel that there's enough room for everyone?

Nanny0gg · 30/05/2020 16:39

I've done a couple of things in my shared garden without asking the neighbours,

Why?

Thisismytimetoshine · 30/05/2020 19:16

anything I have put out is small
Completely irrelevant. You share the space, you have no right to commandeer any of it.

Strawberrypancakes · 31/05/2020 09:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nevertouchakoala · 31/05/2020 09:49

I wouldn’t do what @UnderTheBus has said tone is lost in notes and could come across as passive aggressive. You’re much better getting your point across kindly and non confrontational face to face. When I see notes in the communal area they always come across as passive aggressive and it gets people’s backs up.

chomalungma · 31/05/2020 10:13

We have similar - except it's ex council and council so we have to run things past the council.

I can see why people would want to do such stuff - who wouldn't.

But I do think there should be a shared decision and a vote - if you are all responsible for the garden.

Who 'owns' the garden? If it's all owned equally, then you need to all be involved. Otherwise it's going to be 'garden creep' as more things keep happening.

EvilPea · 31/05/2020 10:17

I think removable stuff is ok.
Garden room is not ok..... unless it’s to store all their stuff in when they’ve finished, including bbq, trampoline etc etc!

EvilPea · 31/05/2020 10:17

Even then it’s taking the piss

gerispringer · 31/05/2020 10:27

You should have a residents’ committee to discuss shared issues. Call a meeting, could be outside in garden socially distanced or WhatsApp. You should have a chair and maybe 2 or 3 other members. Could have social events when permitted. Certainly should be a grounds committee for use of shared space. Do you pay for maintenance? Have a gardener? We have a similar set up and have seen lots of improvements to our grounds by people being pro active and getting things done. Not just one household doing their own thing.

chomalungma · 31/05/2020 10:29

Can I say that this is perfect for the Daily Mail...

GallusAlice79 · 31/05/2020 10:31

@Chester1980

Are you in a Glasgow tenement? Reason I ask is because I am aware of similar issues through a Facebook Community page and there was a lot of interesting opinions on there about how to approach it!

billy1966 · 31/05/2020 10:34

OP,
Extremely bad form and complete CF territory.

Not everyone wants to look at a permanent BBQ and trampolines are ugly things, I know we had one for years.

Insurance is definitely an issue.
Set up a WhatsAp group.

Go to each household for a number and casually mention the garden and the new summer house they are planning.

It sounds like they are indeed taking over and if it came to reselling it would definitely put a buyer off to see one family have commandeered the garden.

A meeting would be a very good idea.
By calling on people, you will get a feel for general feeling.

Will they be that nice when challenged?
Maybe there are local rules for shared space.
Worth checking.

Qgardens · 31/05/2020 10:34

Call a residents meeting about covid in general - it cleaning of communal areas such as the stairwell and banister. Garden related issues etc

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 31/05/2020 10:40

They're taking the piss massively!

They are treating it like it's their own personal garden. If they want their own garden they should buy a property that comes with one.

I agree with pp. Call a residents meeting and address the issue. I guarantee you're not the only residents that feel it's cheeky fuckery.

Notcontent · 31/05/2020 10:58

I agree with SuitedandBooted - what if everyone decided to put their own things in the garden - trampolines, paddling pool, a shed, a table and chairs for each resident, etc. The garden would soon look terrible and become unusable.

Clymene · 31/05/2020 11:54

Also under COVID rules, you cannot share garden toys etc. So them arguing they are for everyone's use doesn't hold water.

Now is a perfect time to have a garden meeting.

Aliceinwanderland · 31/05/2020 15:43

I'm guessing you're in Scotland OP. If so then unless the tenement deed has specific restrictions legally you're looking at the tenement act or general law. It may provide for a majority of flat owners to agree so if the person making the changes has the okay from 6 out of 10 flat owners you may find it tricky to have legal grounds to object. Doesn't mean you shouldn't though.

For posters England, arrangements in Scottish tenements tend to be different.

thedevilinablackdress · 31/05/2020 15:50

They are massively taking the piss. And relying on no-one challenging them so they get away with it.

LevoMental · 05/06/2020 04:29

@Nanny0gg

I've done a couple of things in my shared garden without asking the neighbours,

Why?

Because I didn't feel the need to ask permission for a single flowerpot and a tiny plastic greenhouse in an area of the garden that can't really be used for anything else.

Neighbours didn't ask for my opinion on their patio furniture, their children's outdoor toys etc. We all have the sense to be considerate that its a shared space and not be overbearing.

Flip

1 2 3 4