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?

I believe that you shouldn’t pay, the previous owners are effectively billing you for their mistake. I understand that you may have benefitted but did you really benefit from someone turning up and trespassing and working on your garden? No. stick to your guns here. You can’t be responsible for a bill you didn’t agree to.

As far as they are concerned, their contact has ended. That is the reason I'm saying its fortunate they are offering to pay half. The legal technicalities aren't going to be considered by them. They will just think oh well shit happens. I wouldn't be refusing to pay something that's hardly going to be a huge amount but that's me, clearly not you.

Legally you are not obliged in any way to pay his invoice. The gardener’s contract is with the previous owners. I know of very few tradesmen who wouldn’t send a reminder message and confirm/agree a time of visit etc, so on some level he was himself at fault as it is perfectly foreseeable that people move/die etc. Technically he has trespassed so really he needs to accept that you owe him nothing.

And yes, the previous owners should have cancelled, but probably would also have anticipated a check in/confirmation email at which point they could cancel him.

This is not your issue - you didn’t want or need his services, so why should you be obliged to pay for them.

It’s a shame, but he will have to take it up with the previous owners and if they will not pay in full, he should notify them that he will be going through the small claims court for the full amount.

I wouldn’t pay and I would think very badly of the gardener for coming round and expecting me to after he knew the situation.

Once he knew that the OP wasn’t someone he has a contract with, he had no business asking her for payment at all. He should have told the previous owners that his contract was with them so it’s their responsibility to pay.

It is crazy to expect OP to pay for something she didn’t need, want or ask for.

No, it doesn't seem 'mean' not to pay for something you didn't expect, didn't ask for, and didn't want!

If they did refuse to pay, it still wouldn’t be op’s problem. She isn’t lucky because they’ve offered half because even if they hadn’t, she still wouldn’t be liable to pay a penny.

Sorry but some of the replies to this are utterly batshit. 🤣
To suggest the OP pay anything towards a gardener she neither asked for, knew about, or arranged is madness. 🤣

Well she wasn't a party to the contract and no, she's not liable. However, I would look at it from the view that I've got a nice tidy garden which saves me the hassle. I would then request him not to come again. For me, not paying would be petty. Of course the Gardner could just settle for half of the bill from previous owners.

It would be a huge amount to me 🤣 Even though you could afford it I bet there was lots of other things you could have spent that money on. The blimming cheek!

But it’s not a hassle for op and she prefers to do her own garden. Or she’d hire a gardener…

OK, agreeing to differ. I'm saying what I would do.

His contract verbal or otherwise is with the previous owner. Nothing to do with you. They’ve put him in a dodgy position as he might have damaged your own plants and was actually trespassing. I’m sure you aren’t affected by the last sentence but that’s the position they put him in

Obviously not for you to pay, if you'd wanted to spend money on a gardener you would have booked one.

Of course you don't have to pay for a service you didn't order or even know about.

But if I had the cash to spare, I'd probably give the gardener half anyway.

It's not his fault, either. And, if he's doing the gardening himself, that's pretty hard manual work for low pay. Also, you did get the benefit of his labor.

So, while I agree with you in theory, I also feel like you're bordering on being difficult and insensitive. So instead of answering your question, I'd ask you one: Is this really the way you want to introduce yourself to the neighborhood?

It's not really on you but as a gesture of goodwill and because you've benefited from the work I would pay half, unless you really can't afford to

No, the idea of paying someone who likely doesn't make much for manual labor, which you benefitted from, who wasn't at fault either, and who might well be your neighbor, is actually quite far from "batshit" or "madness." Calm down and quit with the smart mouth. It's not appealing, you know.

Gestures of goodwill are for business to show to customers who have given them work in the past and may do agin in future.

They are not for individuals to show to tradesmen whose business they have no interest in.

No, a gesture of goodwill just means that somebody has done something friendly or helpful. Its use isn't limited to business arrangements.

The previous owners should be paying it all. The OP doesn't owe a penny and doesn't need to do anything as a 'goodwill gesture'. She isn't running a business where that would be applicable.

As has been said what if the previous owners have contracts with other service providers? The OP could end up paying for a gardener, a window cleaner, a bin cleaner and goodness knows what else.

I’m totally calm and not being rude at all, whereas your “smart mouth“ comment is beyond rude!.

At what point is does it say the gardener isn’t making much money?. I think you’re adding the details here unless I’ve missed some posts?.
I’m not at any point taking the mickey out of some ‘poor’ gardener and laughing that he isn’t getting his money!?
I was laughing at some of the comments, perhaps you need to lighten up a little and read some of them, as (some) are ridiculous (and yet none of them laughing at the gardener that I can see, including mine!)

Do not pay this. You don't owe it, didn't order it and didn't want the service.

All of this.

Why would you want to introduce yourself to your neigbours as being a mug and a pushover.....

No they should pay. I did similar when I told the window cleaner we’d moved but forgot to tell him when the date got put back. Of course I paid the bill even though I didn’t benefit from the windows being cleaned.

Or maybe showing you're a reasonable person, who is exercising some common sense. I would feel bad for the bloke but that's me.