Landlord is not upholding their end of the bargain.

[Ph3]

I recently moved in and part of deal is that gardeners are meant to come in twice a month to mow the lawn and trim the bushes. We have been here since June so the gardeners should have come in 8 times and so far they have only been twice. I keep calling her and texting her asking this to be addressed and she always dismisses me - she doesn’t answer my texts and when I call she either doesn’t answer at all.
there are other issues such as the dryer as been broken since we moved in and when it rains water comes through the windows…
I have sent her a message on Monday asking her to send the grandeners again - still no answer. AIBU to ask that we sort the gardening and then deduct it from the rent (providing her with receipts of course)

Dies the rental state a cost for the gardener? If you are paying a set amount for it then yes she is at fault.

What does it say in your tenancy agreement about the gardeners?

the tumble drier needs fixing or replacing

the leak needs fixing

email with the repairs so you have a paper trail

@cansu - no it doesn’t state the value simply that it is the responsibility of the landlord. She texted us before we moved in stating that they are to come once a month October to March and twice a month April to September.
@ivykaty44 - we have told her about the drier multiple times and she said she ordered the part she is going to look into it but then crickets.
same with the leak she said she would send someone in it has been 4 weeks we haven’t heard anything else. All of this is being done via email/message as she seldom answers her phone.

If the contract doesn't specify how often the gardener is supposed to come then you can't expect any frequency and if its not often enough for you then you may have to do it yourself - but don't make any major changes .
And no, you can't deduct anything from rent or you are probably in breach of the contract

You have told her

no paper trail

put it in an email

snd what does the tenancy agreement say about the gardener?

@ivykaty44 - sorry when I mean told her this is done via email or text as I said above she very rarely answers her phone.

Cost of garden maintenance usually is borne by tenants, no?
Focus on the internal stuff first.

@Hoppinggreen she has written in when the gardeners are meant to come in twice a month in the summer and once in the winter - as this is the standard requirement of where we live.

@readingmakesmehappy not where we live no. It’s the responsibility of the landlord

Take it up with the private rental department at local council

you have evidence you've asked in text

I see, in which case she is in breach but you still can't withold rent unfortunately.
How you enforce the gardening clause I have no idea

@ivykaty44 - unfortunately there is no such thing here. So not sure where to go from here. I feel like I might have to breach contract and leave before the end of contract.

@Hoppinggreen I don’t want to withhold rent per se- I want to sort out a gardener myself and send her the receipts and of course agree this with her beforehand

That is fine
I am not a lawyer but I am very involved with Tenancy Agreements for my job and unfortunately you can't withold rent without agreement even if it seems reasonable on paper.

@Hoppinggreen are you involved in tenancy in the Uk?
you mention withholding rent but if this is agreed with her I’m not withhold - I don’t think that term really applies here. I’m asking her can we change it so we ensure we get the service that we are paying for.

I am, yes.
As long as she agrees (get it in writing) you can not pay full rent for any reason.

@Hoppinggreen - yes I’m not in the Uk. Things are very different here, as I am finding out. Both myself and my partner have discussed this with colleagues at work and it seems that withholding rent is a negotiating tactic over here. But as we are from the UK, I am very relunctant to use this

Where is here?

Well unfortunately its unlikely that anyone here can help unless firstly you share where you are and secondly there is someone who reads this and knows about Tenancy agreements in your location.
It might be fine for you to withold rent and it might not, nobody know at this point

I think I was trying to get at is - am I being unreasonable to ask and keep insisting that this is upheld. Never really been in this position before. It gets to a point we can’t use it at all.

Not unreasonable at all

Suggest it to her. Also about the repairs. That you will get them fixed and deduct the money off your rent. Might make her get her arse in gear.