Not paying for garden work

[gardendramas5]

I’m pretty sure I’m not being unreasonable but I just want to see what other people think.

I purchased my house December last year. It was empty for at least 2 years (ex rental)

The previous owners kept the front and back garden tidy whilst it was on the market, no idea if it was them that did the work or if they paid someone. Both gardens are quite large. I started doing all of this myself when I took ownership.

Anyway, I’ve been away for the last week with family and came home on Wednesday to freshly cut grass, weeds pulled etc. I asked my neighbours if they had seen anyone but they were at work. It turns out that the previous owners hired a company to do the work and hadn’t notified them that they’d sold the house last year. I only found this out yesterday as the gardener turned up with the invoice. I explained I wasn’t aware of this arrangement and that he would have to invoice the previous owners for the work (I was polite and apologised for the inconvenience but made it clear I hadn’t asked for this work to be done and wasn’t prepared to pay for it either)

He knocked on again this morning and explained that he’d spoken to them yesterday and that they agreed to pay half (because it was their error) but that I should pay the rest because I’m the one benefiting from the work. I told him no sorry I’m not paying and he needs to take it up with them.

I do feel bad for the gardener, but it’s their fault. I didn't ask for this. They were awkward during the conveyancing process too so this doesn’t surprise me. AIBU?

Again, seasons. Stuff doesn't grow in winter. He's probably done it like this for a few years. But I would say it would be good business practice to check.

I know - and also seem to think its absolutely fine for the OP to be out of pocket rather than the 'poor gardener' (who is in fact the one who should be looking for goodwill - he's just lost a client and you'd think would be hoping the OP might consider contracting him herself... ).

For me I think it would depend on how much half of the bill was. £30 I could just about stomach, anymore than that I would tell the gardener to sort it out with the previous owners. Especially given you don't mind a bit of gardening yourself.

They were working for the previous owner
The contractural agreement wasn’t with you so you shouldn’t pay

What if you didn’t want the grass cut. It is no mow May to help wildlife.

The contract is with the previous owners.

My gardener rings all his clients annually in March to plan his schedule. This is what a professional gardener should be doing!

My gardener is contracted to start in spring every year. I pay a deposit thing at the end of the autumn to confirm my place for spring. I get it back if I cancel with 4 weeks notice.
Then he just turns up in spring and starts work. No communication needed.

Exactly. I don’t mow in May and would lose it if someone lopped down my lawn.

I recently had a morning’s gardening done. When I look at what they actually did, it wasn’t an awful lot. It cost me £500, for a morning’s work. There were two of them so, actually a day’s work. Nonetheless, gardeners don’t come cheap these days.

I knew you would
It’s all in the name
👏👏👏

whilst you didn’t cause this situation, of course not, I still think it says quite a lot about your character that you’re refusing to pay half when even though you didn’t request it, it has saved you some work. Let’s be honest here, it has saved you a lot of time.

Bollocks. OP didn't ask or want her garden doing, she owes nothing to anybody

OP hasn't said that it's work she would have chosen to have done at that time or at all. The person who booked the service should pay for it, and it says something about their character that they haven't.

I'd pay half, tbh.

I’d say not your problem!

I wouldn't pay.
You have no contract with him.
The previous owners engaged him and should have disengaged him.

Did they really have a "yearly" job done?

The fact you've been there since December and this is his first visit makes me feel like he's trying it on for business.

Just say no.

Nonsense.

Maybe she enjoys caring for her garden and didn’t want to “save time.”

Maybe he pulled “weeds” she planned to cultivate.
Maybe she just doesn’t want a stranger on her property.

OP is the wronged person in this scenario. Let the gardener be more careful about checking with clients.

But time IS money; and money IS time.

Some people prefer to do jobs themselves rather than paying somebody else to do them and some people simply cannot afford to outsource jobs that they can do themselves.

Rich people may pay others to do their ironing, cleaning, washing, cooking, gardening, driving, life admin etc. - and this all saves them a lot of time, but obviously costs them a lot of money.

Ordinary - and also poorer - people could not pay to buy all of this extra personal time, even if they wanted to. Aside from the fact that spme people actually enjoy cooking, driving and other chores.

In reality, you appear to be saying that people who are not sufficiently well off to outsiurce household tasks automatically all have a bad character.

This isn't somebody who agreed to a paid-for service and then reneged on paying the bill; this is somebody who never remotely asked for the service but has been given a bill for it anyway.

You sound a delight. Very classy

Yanbu.
I would also make sure the gardener is clear his services are no longer needed.

The 50/50 split proposal kind of implies a handover to a new client. You could come home on another occasion he's done more work and now expects 100%

… but totally correct.

Legally you don't have to pay, but I would pay half.

YANBU You have no contract with the gardener so you don't have to pay, whether you benefit or not. It's the previous owners' fault and they are responsible for paying the bill.

And you sound like a complete snob.

The previous owners have been professionally careless and negligent by not communicating clearly. The blame rests with them as they did not inform the gardener that they no longer needed him. He may well have had an agreement with them to do the garden every six months, say, and was unaware it had changed if they not give him notice. But that is between him and the owners, and you are not obliged to pay for work you did not ask for or know about. If it is not a large sum you could go halves on it to help the gardener out, but I'd be making my feelings known to the previous owners.

Hiw much is the bill . And is money tight for you?

If you've got plenty I'd perhaps pay half if money is tight then sorry no