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?

The gardener needs to stop hassling the OP and demand the money the previous owners owe him. If you are annoyed with them why would you pay their bill?

Again, an absolutely killer response. Well done!

Now, do you want to actually present a coherent argument? I know you've failed consistently to do so for several hours but I am an optimist at heart.

I have presented reasoned opinions, not ranted.

Contract is with the previous owner so contacts them for payment.

If he persists with you I’d tell him you will ask him for payment for getting use of your garden when you were away.

You absolutely should not pay, OP.

You could let the gardener know that if a witness statement would help him if he wishes to sue the previous owners, you'd be happy to provide.

Are the reasoned opinions in the room with us?

YANBU

I wouldn't pay it. I enjoy gardening like you. You didn't ask for it, not your fault, you can't undo his service and give it back to him, so there's really nothing you can do.

Surely he must have noticed that it had been done recently though and thought to check with who he thought the owner still was?!

Anyway, nope, I wouldn't pay, this is on the previous owners. I'd be polite to him about it to keep relations good, but his contract wasn't with you, nor did you require or want his services.

You haven't "benefitted" from his service because it was a task you would have enjoyed doing yourself.

You have been told by multiple people why your opinions are based on erroneous grasp of the facts and and a complete lack of logical process.

How much is half ?

I stand by my opinion. OK.

You stand by your opinion in the face of the facts! Because you have a right to your opinion!

Do you still stand by your earlier opinion that the contract the previous owners had with the gardener passed to the OP when she bought the house?

Be decent, and pay half.

Why do you feel the OP owes it to the previous owners to "be decent" and pay half their bill?

I said the previous owners would no longer consider themselves having a contract with the gardener. Well actually no, they wouldn't even think of it to that extent. They forgot or couldn't be bothered to cancel. So yes, the gardener can pursue them in the small claims. Or he could take it all as seriously as you and go all guns blazing and hire himself a top contract lawyer. The OP can then sit it out and say I'm not party to the contract. I've argued that she might want to pay half as a compromise for the work already being done. She's made it clear she's not happy with paying it but asked if she was being unreasonable. Now wind yer neck in because you're no more right than I am.

Oh no, I'm much more right than you are. Throughout this thread you've reached levels of wrongness on multiple points that most people can only dream of.
I'd forgotten about them cancelling the contract without telling the gardener before you just reminded me!

Dog.with.a.bone.

First year LLB is it?

Good god no, there's probably only one person in the world that I know more about the law than. It was good of you to come!

Well I will leave you to sticking pins in your doll, while you're arguing against Latin terms in contract law. That one was particularly entertaining. 👌

I didn't do that or anything like that, but you're welcome! What did you think I did? I mean I know what I did, but I'd really hesitate to make a guess at what you think I did that caused you to say that as I have seen how extraordinarily gifted you are are misinterpreting everything. I know the quote you're referring to, what did you think it meant?

I don’t understand any comment that says you should pay half! The previous owners booked him, agreed the price, and didn’t cancel - 100% on them! So cheeky of them to send the gardener back to you. They should have apologised, paid him in full and then approached your themselves to see if you would be happy to pay anything as a gesture of goodwill. You still would have been well within your right to say no though!

The work was done to your house without your knowledge / agreement. The previous owner is totally responsible. Yes, of course you could give him something towards the cost if 1) you can afford it and 2) the work is done well and is useful, but in no way are you obliged to pay in full for a service someone else wanted and booked without you knowing a thing about it!

The previous owners need to be decent and pay in full.

Oh just pay half and sort it out from there. Things get missed and forgotten during a house move.

Sure they do. But why on earth does that mean OP should pay any of this? She should use her money to pay for the things she missed.

You are 100% NOT unreasonable! You don't need to pay anything.

"You're benefiting, so pay half" is ridiculous. Shall I go around the neighbourhood and book jobs for strangers, then claim they need to pay half because they're benefiting from the result?! Insane 🤣

Up to you if you'd LIKE to pay half out of the goodness of your heart, if you can afford it, if the price is very cheap, and if the guy did a good job. But that would be a million percent a goodwill gesture and nothing more.