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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want the landlords to deal with ridiculously overgrown brambles?

16 replies

musicalmrs · 12/07/2022 09:56

This seems very trivial with everything else going on in the world, but I could do with some opinions/advice. Posting on AIBU rather than gardening as it's a bit of both!

Our garden shares boundaries with four other gardens. With most of them, we have the usual - the odd thing comes under the fence, we discuss it or just dig it it up/pull it out if it's something like a bramble/nettle, and move on. Usual amount of maintenance and no problems.

However, we're having an issue with one of the gardens. They seem to have left the back third of their very long garden to go wild, and it's now full with brambles, nettles, a few other random things and a higgledy apple tree. I'd estimate it's at least 10m square (probably bigger?) and looks impassable. The brambles are nine foot high along the boundary and constantly invading - pushing through the fence (and damaging it), through the greenhouse floor and raised beds etc. I'm constantly having to cut them back as they start attacking us, which of course makes them grow more..

The property is owned by a landlord/housing association I think (not council but similar idea I believe). They have told me it's the tenant's responsibility to cut it back - which sounds about right as one of the other properties is similarly owned/tenanted and cared for by the tenants. This area has been 'wild' since we moved in (20 months ago) and satellite imaging suggests its been like for significantly longer. AIBU to suggest that they need to do something if the tenant won't? Does anyone know if there's anyone else I can contact if they won't?

It's not the kind of fence you can easily take down and put up, or I'd be tempted to do that and dig out a couple of metres of it myself!

OP posts:
balalake · 12/07/2022 10:44

Can you give notice to them that you will seek damages to repair the fence if they do not act within a reasonable time (say give them a month)? Find out who the housing association is and contact them.

EmmajR86 · 12/07/2022 10:48

why don’t you speak to the tenant then

No Drama, no “I have spoken with HA and it’s YOUR responsibility damn it!!”

just - “hi, any chance you could please cut back the bushes this weekend please as you can see - it’s got a bit out of control! Cheers”

EmmajR86 · 12/07/2022 10:48

As a tenant they may not have gardening tools, so you could offer they borrow yours

EmmajR86 · 12/07/2022 10:49

balalake · 12/07/2022 10:44

Can you give notice to them that you will seek damages to repair the fence if they do not act within a reasonable time (say give them a month)? Find out who the housing association is and contact them.

Before actually just asking them?!!

Icanstillrecallourlastsummer · 12/07/2022 10:51

Cutting back 10ft of Bramble will be a huge ordeal. If it is causing damage to your property I would keep on the owners/ HA. They are ultimately legally responsible, and it's not up to you to enforce it with the tenant. That's their job.

5zeds · 12/07/2022 10:51

They’re allowed to leave a section of their property to grow. Just cut off anything that sticks through the fence and ask them where they want you to put it. You only get to choose what’s on your land.

ChristinePerfect · 12/07/2022 10:53

If no luck with the HA try emailing your local ward councillor or MP, that usually gets things shifting a bit quicker.

kewgirl · 12/07/2022 10:55

"They are ultimately legally responsible, and it's not up to you to enforce it with the tenant. That's their job."
Totally correct
Tell the HA that you will be suing them for damage
Write a letter to them
They are obliged to reply by their protocols
Write the the CEO

KosherDill · 12/07/2022 10:59

5zeds · 12/07/2022 10:51

They’re allowed to leave a section of their property to grow. Just cut off anything that sticks through the fence and ask them where they want you to put it. You only get to choose what’s on your land.

This.

The brambles are probably a great habitat for wildlife.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/07/2022 11:01

5zeds · 12/07/2022 10:51

They’re allowed to leave a section of their property to grow. Just cut off anything that sticks through the fence and ask them where they want you to put it. You only get to choose what’s on your land.

Not when it's damaging someone elses property and the property you are letting get into disrepair is not yours to begin with.

I agree op don't stop getting on to the HA. It is their responsibility in the long run. The person in the house might be vulnerable and need help. If that's the case they'll be entitled to help with their garden

musicalmrs · 12/07/2022 11:01

Argh, didn't realise I can't quote more than one person in a post (or you can I just haven't sussed it out!).

@5zeds I'm more than happy for them to leave their whole garden to grow if that's what they'd like - it's brilliant for wildlife after all! It's now it's causing damage to ours that I'm worried about it. The base board has already been detatched from the fence in several places because of the brambles..

@EmmajR86 I've tried and not caught them when they're in. I will continue to try though. The housing people said they'd get in touch with them too, but it's not their responsibility! However, it's not an easy job - they can't simply wander to the back of their garden to do it. It's a 10m+ of vegetation needs a path clearing through it type job.

In my latest email I've mentioned the fence damage, which I'll take photos of too. It's quite a weird situation as I think the whole of the 'wild' area is actually fenced off as if it's not part of their garden, so I think there's some crossed wires and confusion - but the plans definitely show that it's that property's land!

OP posts:
musicalmrs · 12/07/2022 11:04

KosherDill · 12/07/2022 10:59

This.

The brambles are probably a great habitat for wildlife.

They are! And I'm a wildlife lover. We have a meadow-y front lawn and wild patches in our garden (but kept in check to make sure they don't damage others). It's the damage aspect here that I'm worried about. If they want to have a whole garden of brambles then that's absolutely fine with me! But when they're forcing their way through our fence and causing damage it's trickier. Them erupting over the top is less of an issue - I can just cut them off (or enjoy the berries then cut them off!).

OP posts:
Bertieboo82 · 12/07/2022 11:06

what about writing the tenants a very civil note to suggest that you and they chat about the very over grown hedge that is causing damage your fence this weekend. Say they’d be welcome to come over for a coffee whilst you chat threw what needs to be done to avoid to further damage to your fence

Bertieboo82 · 12/07/2022 11:06

Through

5zeds · 12/07/2022 11:12

So, if the fence is yours then get a quote for the repairs needed and ask them to cover it?

musicalmrs · 12/07/2022 11:19

Bertieboo82 · 12/07/2022 11:06

what about writing the tenants a very civil note to suggest that you and they chat about the very over grown hedge that is causing damage your fence this weekend. Say they’d be welcome to come over for a coffee whilst you chat threw what needs to be done to avoid to further damage to your fence

This is an excellent plan. I may try the civil note as I can't get hold of them, and ask when they'd be free (working weekends/evenings at the minute, which makes things trickier).

Something I left out of the original post (didn't mean to drip feed!) but we'd been told by the previous owners that the housing trust came out and kept it maintained/under control, which is why I went down that avenue originally rather than talk directly to the tenants. A huge generalisation, but many tenants are elderly/disabled too, adding to the challenge. But I will try my hardest to get in touch with them - they may have some ideas of someone they could talk to at the housing association too if it's not something they can do themselves.

OP posts:
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