To ask landlord to make the garden safe?

[Pepesfordinner]

We rent from a private company that lets out new builds. We have super steep sharp steps going down the back gate. We always keep an eye on DD but today he was just to fast and tumbled down the stairs and cut his head and has had to have it glued together because of how deep it was.

I don’t know what we could do to make it safer so he can go off an explore without us panicking all the time.

aibu to ask? I’m not sure if it sounds silly or not. But they rent these houses to families and they are supposed to be family friendly but it just seems so dangerous.

Surely, before you moved in, you checked out the house that it was safe for your family, a d accepted that the steps in the garden were safe.

I'd negotiate something with the landlords and nice if they say no.
Make sure you send lots of photographs including the damage caused to your child

This is like moaning to your landlord because your child fell down the stairs inside the house. Not at all your landlord’s problem.

No. Spend a few bob on some timber and fence it off. They are LLs not a concierge service.

It is if there's no safety railings if it's going to cause damage to somebody living there!

Clothes are clothes. Just put him in DDs old stuff.

Surely you saw the garden before you moved in

What do you want the landlord to do?

Sorry wrong thread.

Is there a hand rail?
You'll need one for adults too, once it gets a bit cold/wet/icy. If there isn't one I'd ask for one to be installed.

You need to supervise him or use low fencing to screen off the steps. It is not really up to the ll. How many steps are there? Hope ds(?) is ok.

Well, is there any actual danger to a sensible person? Or only to someone who is running around without looking where they're going?

It depends. Are the steps an actual hazard or are they just a pain in the arse for a toddler to manage.

I guess because when we moved in DS was a baby and I just never thought about him
running about.

im not blaming landlord I’m just wondering if it’s silly to ask? It doesn’t have any railings or anything.

You don't have to be unsensible to fall.

Yes OP bring it up with your landlord, maybe have a look at the original planning permission to see if it was approved with the same design that you finally got as often there are minimum design regulations and a handrail and safety features on steep stairs is one that should have been included.

Most planning applications these days are on line.

It never hurts to ask. The worst they can say is no and then you’ll have to sort it yourself.
As previous pp said, take photos of DS & steps & submit with your request.
Wouldn’t hurt to tell the landlord how much you enjoy living there, either.

I'd put some plastic/picket type fencing across the steps so your DC can run about safely in the garden. Not sure this is your landlord's job unless the garden is unsafe for adults. Lots of normal things are hazards to young children unless supervised very closely.

Well you did know the situation when you moved there.

You'd need to work out how to make it safe, the landlord may contribute towards the cost if its an improvement. Ultimately its your job to keep your dd safe, if the garden isn't safe you'll just need to be with her.

Our garden wasn't safe when we moved, as it was tiered with no barrier. So we installed a fence and gate between tiers.

If you rent through the company I'm thinking of, I would definitely raise it with them and ask for handrail at least. We had an issue of a step that people constantly tripped over and the LL said we couldn't put up a warning sign or paint the step etc to make it more visible as it wasnt in the contract or ok with the house builder.
Then a delivery driver fell badly on it and only just missed cracking his head open which was caught on video. We told them and the step was painted by them within days and the issue was escalated to the house builder as well as the LL management team and they came round to inspect it and the other houses on the estate.

I hope your little one is OK.

what we could do to make it safer so he can go off an explore

You kinda can't let young children "go off an explore", when they are still of an age to tumble on steep steps.

What do you mean they were supposed to be 'family friendly'?

They actually advertised that?

If so I would think that refers more to the people it's aimed at than a special safety set up in case an unsupervised kid goes rogue!

Obviously it’s not your LL’s fault but definitely ask them, if they say no then sort it yourself with their permission