It’s a neighbour - front garden one

[ItsaNeigbourgh1]

So try to keep it as short as possible. I live in mid terrace and with one of the houses next door I share a front garden area.

It’s a busy road so it’s a substantial, larger size of grassed ‘front garden’ that sets us back from the pavement /road.

When moving in they mentioned that they took turns on moving this area with the previous tenant. And it kinda makes sense while you have the lawn mover out… it was all going well until they kinda just stopped over the years and sorted the front garden once in a blue moon.

I used to live here with my partner but we split up and now living on my own. It used to be my ex cutting the lawn before. Next door we’ve got an older couple (wife around 68-70 husband around 55)

I cut the lawn first time this year today. Starting with the back garden (hearing me doing it the wife from next door pulled out their mover and sorted their back garden too) I planned on doing the front too as wanted to have it nice for the long weekend.

Cut the front, both sides… it’s quite a big area and it took me ages. There is a sloped area down towards the pavement which is really hard work.

The wife came out and thanked and started sweeping her path to the front door.

The thing is… I know that they won’t cut the grass next time. They will wait for me… and I’m not expecting the elderly wife but the husband is young and fit - just can’t be arsed.

I’d be more than happy if we all cut our own sides. But it’s quite awkward as there is no fence or anything that separates us.

i will cut it one more time and if they don’t do it after I am just going to do my side… I feel terrible about it but I have my own health issues with abdominal pains etc and it’s hard work especially on the sloped areas. There side is steeper than mine.

I feel shit about it though, but I don’t think I’m being unreasonable?

I’d put a fence up and do your own side.

It’s a rental. I can’t just put a fence up

Can't you just talk to them about it, let them know you have your own health issues and will only be able to do your side from now on?

Just tell them. They’ll probably be grateful. We have the same kind of setup here and I hate it. I’d much rather just do our own.

Seems a tad petty but I'd get annoyed too. Lots of potential mismatch pf expectations in how short, how frequently to mow it etc. So it does make it easier just to mow own side
Maybe wait to see if they cut it again
Why not get some quotes from gardener/a local teen and see if they want to split it between you all
Or throw loads of wildflower seeds in and make a meadow

We have the same set up here, but with one neighbour. We came to an arrangement where they cut it, and we pay for the petrol in the mower, and buy them a bottle of whiskey at the start and end of the grass cutting season. They like gardening, we don’t, so it works for us. No way would we expect them to do it for nothing though.

I'm in a similar position OP, except 4 maisonettes instead of 2 terraces. It's always me that ends up cutting the lawn. I decided this year enough was enough and suggested we get a gardener, except one of the maisonettes has said no. But she doesn't have a lawn mower. So fucked off with it all.

Just do your own side. If you feel awkward about it, you can let them know that that is all that you're fit for.