AIBU. Garden wall

[BryanAdamsLeftAnkle]

I rent my house and have done for 13 years. 3 years ago new neighbours moved in. Lovely people. We don't talk to them much but exchange pleasantries and smile.

The garden wall as it is, is crumbling and dangerous and needs replacing. It also goes down to halfway from house to street.. So I suggested that they contact my landlord as I only rent and I don't own this house.

So lovely neighbours have been in touch with landlords who have agreed to share the cost of the wall being replaced with neighbours to the point it extends which is halfway down the garden.

Neighbours have decided that they want the wall down the full length of the garden and have suggested that we pay 1/4 towards the cost.

Cue me being given a bill for £185 for a wall I don't own in a house I rent. I could cry as I just said OK and sent the money but it's really sticking in my throat.

Aibu to be gutted that I have handed over money for a wall I don't own.

Yes I paid it for the sake of good neighbour relations.

Why did you?
And why did they ask if they lnow you rent?

I think if you have already paid then there's not much you can do now. Are you sure they landlord hasn't put all his cost on you? Just remember to say no next time 😉.

You have been taken advantage of. Of course you shouldn't contribute but you are obviously a kind and thoughtful neighbour. They are not lovely neighbours. We all do things we regret but dont let it bother you. You will be more wary of them in the future. It will look better if its full length so just enjoy a bit more privacy.

Surely you should have referred them back to the landlord again.

you should have given bill ot landlord.

You should still give the bill to the landlord.

Contact your landlord and tell him that he agreed to the wall, and to give you the money as you have paid.

YABU because you shouldn't have said OK and sent the money. You should have said 'Sorry, it's not my house so I'm not really prepared to pay. You will need to discuss the additional cost with the landlord or pay for it yourself'.

Why did you pay??

You shouldn't have given them the money. It's probably not even allowed in your tenancy agreement to make those kind of changes - your landlord might be charging you to get it removed. Especially as the fact you paid probably makes the landlord liable for future repairs. The right thing would be just to say "sorry I don't own the house therefore can't authorise this" and refer them back to the landlord.

Oh wow...they are CFs, why on earth did they ask you when they know you're not the property owner?! But also, why did you hand the money over? Whose boundary even was it? Surely the boundary owner pays?

Just tell the landlord that you've paid and ask him to refund you.

@SunIsComing

Why did you pay??

Because I'm a muppet. 🙋🏻‍♀️. Absolutely fuming as I was going to replace my hall carpet. 😂. I clearly need a good slap

The only reason I can think of that the neighbour asked you to pay any contribution is because their desire to extend the wall didn't meet with what was agreed with your landlord.

They passed the cost onto you because they probably thought you would benefit from their amazing idea to extend the wall and that you'd probably pay if they surmised you're a soft touch

I'd advise you contact the landlord straight away and connect him or her with them

YABU to have paid

I'm totally unreasonable. I know. I just can't believe I sat and fumed about it instead of just refusing. I'm not happy but hey ho.

I need to give my head a wobble.

Good suggestions to pass this back to your LL. Youre not a muppet.

Sorry I’m going to say YABU. You’re the one who paid 🙈 you really shouldn’t have

I don't want to add to the general chorus, but why did you pay?

Are you one of those people who find themselves reluctantly handing over their bank details to "chuggers" in the street or sponsoring relative strangers to do a sponsored sunbathe in Majorca in aid of their local donkey sanctuary?

Did they maybe ask the landlord who said no so they tried it on with you?

You agreed so the time to object has passed. To be honest if I was the landlord I wouldn’t reimburse you out of principle- but it’s worth a shot

@MessAllOver

I don't want to add to the general chorus, but why did you pay?

Are you one of those people who find themselves reluctantly handing over their bank details to "chuggers" in the street or sponsoring relative strangers to do a sponsored sunbathe in Majorca in aid of their local donkey sanctuary?

Not quite, but I have spent my entire life as a people pleaser. I have worked hard to break that mold and can now say no but I am still not good if its people I know and like.

It's done now.
You've invested in your view for the next few years so enjoy any benefits.

Go and ask your neighbour for your money back. Tell them that you misunderstood and though this had been agreed with your landlord and since it hasn't been, you can't authorise them to do it nor contribute to it.

🤦

That is a real shame and owners shouldn’t have asked a tenant to pay for the wall. That’s pretty rude actually. Bet you’re kicking yourself. Please use this as a learning experience.

Also, why are you replacing a hall carpet? Surely that's your LL's responsibility as well?

I would ask them to refund it as you mistakenly thought you had to pay and have since been told that you should never have paid anything as you are not the owner. Absolutely ask for it back! The cheek of them!