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?

Please understand that people pointing out to you that the delay is not unusual are not in any way saying that the OP should pay.

People can disagree with you on one thing without disagreeing with you on everything. And if you've reached the same conclusion as me but due to faulty reasoning, I can point out your faulty reasoning without questioning the conclusion.

You did the right thing. I wouldn't be paying for it either and it isn't beneficial for you because it isn't something you wanted.

Are you the thread warden now?

Please understand I will post when and what I want, regardless. Do you expect every poster to recognise your name and your position on the matter? I do now.

You don't have any idea how much they value having their lawn mowed for them or how much they are being asked to pay, so you can't possibly reach the conclusion it's "a bit tight".
If they are time rich and cash poor and enjoy mowing the lawn any amount is too much.

I agree, and have said so upthread. My comment was in relation to the fact the gardener hadn’t been for a few months.

And my comment was in relation to the fact that no gardener I have ever employed has been okay with coming at such irregular, seasonal intervals, or they would be broke half the year. I guess we all have different lives and lived experiences.

Can you explain to me how I was trying to stop you posting what you want?

If you want to keep telling people who are not arguing that the OP should pay that the OP shouldn't pay, you can. However if you keep doing it to people making an entirely different argument as though you've somehow answered the point they made, expect to have it pointed out to you. Because what it looks like is you either don't understand what they are saying, or you are constantly moving the goalposts. But you carry on!

My husband is a gardener with regular clients. He always calls or messages before going round to check they still want him.on that day, particularly at the start of the season. The error is with the previous owner and the gardener here, not you.

OP absolutely does not have to pay for something she didn't want or ask for.

How did they access her property? That would be a potential concern for me too.

Very much depends on the type of house and the setting, though, doesn't it? When we lived in a farmhouse with no neighbours surrounded by land, there wasn't really much difference between front and back as far as burglars would have been concerned.

It is not a great logical puzzle or an occult mystery.

You have pounced on me, told me I have 'faulty reasoning' and are trying to control how I reply to posters, what I say when I reply, and are generally acting like some sort of weird self-appointed thread traffic warden. Cease and desist.

I get that, but the person is obviously dodgy and this poor gardener has to run around chasing money and wasting time.

I just replied with what I would personally do and write it off, I’m not forcing OP to agree with me.

Ok, so if I tell you why what you say doesn't make sense, I am "trying to control how you reply to posters".
If you say to me "Cease and Desist", that's...what, in your book?

Keep going though! Say what you like!

That's me saying leave me alone.

You could just stand outside the small claims court handing money over to everyone who was bringing a case against "someone dodgy", but I just don't see why you would .

I’m not sure why you’re getting so worked up about it, maybe go sit in your garden 🤷🏻‍♀️

Which isn't "controlling how I reply to posters", in your book. If you want to be left alone, stop saying things to me that require me to reply and point out that they are wrong. I promise faithfully I won't point out why you're wrong any more unless you are wrong directly to me.

Odd. What on earth would a gardener do during the winter months when nothing is growing? I’ve had gardeners for many years and all have had a winter hiatus. I assumed they had alternative employment for those months.

I'm not sure why being interested in why people would behave in certain ways is "getting worked up". I'm actually keen for you to explain your thinking and why you would do it as it makes no sense to me that anyone would act in this way to resolve a dispute between two parties they have no previous connection with. Honestly would be happy for you to say why.

This only makes sense if she was looking for someone to help with the garden but as she said she does it herself so why should she pay and then ask him to come back.

The previous owners put the Gardner in this position and they are liable. OP can agree to pay the half as a gesture of goodwill but she is under no obligation.

The argument that she is benefiting therefore she has to pay is wrong. By that logic your neighbours can paint your wall or do some work randomly without asking you and insist you pay because you’re benefitting.

As well as having different lives, and different lived experiences, it seems we also have very different gardens.

Look, several posters have said it’s perfectly normal for a gardener to take a break over the winter for obvious reasons. Even the pp whose husband is a gardener. Why are you still arguing with people?!

Because this is mumsnet
and she has the right
🤗

I had no idea and not in a great space to figure it out. My DH died in December and the garden needed a fair bit doing to in March.

To be fair we live in a rental and we have shared hedges and a weird front garden layout with grass and the estate agent takes care of that. The gardener made his first visit of the year this week. He’ll probably do a monthly visit now until September.

We’ve been doing our back garden since last month though as it was already long then. I imagine the gardener must have known someone had already done the garden when he didn’t walk into knee high grass!