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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not paying for garden work

808 replies

gardendramas5 · 16/05/2025 09:24

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?

OP posts:
KhakiOrca · 17/05/2025 04:50

If you can afford it then pay up. If you are happy with the work, pay up.

MananaPenelope · 17/05/2025 05:41

AthWat · 16/05/2025 21:02

If one might argue that the OP is morally obliged to pay, why haven't you actually come up with any halfway decent argument to show where that moral obligation comes from that isn't based on "oh, the poor gardener". The "poor gardener" might pull in three times as much money as the OP.

Show quote history

Not morally obliged at all. This really isn’t the OP’s problem. The gardener effectively trespassed on her property because they weren’t able to communicate with the previous owner who they had a contract with for whatever reason.

WeWillAllGoTogether · 17/05/2025 06:20

<Idly wonders whether, if all the "poor gardener, I would pay half" posters clubbed together with a couple of quid each, there'd be enough to pay said half>

Needlenardlenoo · 17/05/2025 07:26

I don't think you should pay for something you didn't book - it muddies the water.

Needlenardlenoo · 17/05/2025 07:53

Why don't you have the solicitor who did the conveyancing write them a letter saying you won't be paying for anything arranged by them outwith anything arranged during the purchase, including gardening? If they are disorganised, this could easily reoccur.

Debinaround · 17/05/2025 08:09

KhakiOrca · 17/05/2025 04:50

If you can afford it then pay up. If you are happy with the work, pay up.

She’s not happy with the work though, she likes and wants to do her garden herself. She has spent money on garden equipment that she probably wouldn’t have if she was planning to employ a gardener. She also says if she was planning on hiring a gardener it would be her old one so this guy who’s trying to get her to pay half wouldn’t be getting the gig regardless.

PorkyMcChubbington · 17/05/2025 10:27

Needlenardlenoo · 17/05/2025 07:53

Why don't you have the solicitor who did the conveyancing write them a letter saying you won't be paying for anything arranged by them outwith anything arranged during the purchase, including gardening? If they are disorganised, this could easily reoccur.

What would you pay for a solicitors letter (not cheap) when you can just do nothing at all?

ButterCrackers · 17/05/2025 10:35

PorkyMcChubbington · 17/05/2025 10:27

What would you pay for a solicitors letter (not cheap) when you can just do nothing at all?

Show quote history

Agree. You don’t need to do anything. It’s up to the gardener to get his payment from the people who hired him. If they don’t pay he can make a claim for the people who hired him to pay up.

SALaw · 17/05/2025 10:44

rwalker · 16/05/2025 09:38

This is 100% not on you
but the guys going to lose out through no fault of his own I’d probably offer to pay 1/2

He’s only losing out because the people he had a contract with won’t pay the full price. He should be back knocking on their door.

Needlenardlenoo · 17/05/2025 12:36

Well yes, the OP can do nothing at all, and potentially receive future gardening bills, window cleaning bills, tree care bills...who knows what else these dippy people have forgotten to cancel?!

YellowOrangePink · 17/05/2025 12:38

DinoLil · 16/05/2025 09:33

I think you ABU. If this happened to me, I'd be happy to pay half and ask the guy when he was free to come again! But, I hate gardening, so...

The gardener shouldn't have to be put in an awkward position. It's fair that the previous owners pay half although you are benefiting.

Outrageous! So I can rock up to the edge of your premises and play my guitar and sing a tune and you would feel obliged to pay because you've enjoyed the benefit of my lovely music?

YellowOrangePink · 17/05/2025 12:39

ButterCrackers · 17/05/2025 10:35

Agree. You don’t need to do anything. It’s up to the gardener to get his payment from the people who hired him. If they don’t pay he can make a claim for the people who hired him to pay up.

Show quote history

This, why is this even a discussion?

Izyboo · 17/05/2025 13:39

I had a very similar experience. I hadn't long been in my house. My 8 and 1yr old were in the garden (locked gate). I'd popped upstairs and in those 2 minutes this elderly couple, gardening duo, had unlocked the gate and let themselves into my garden. Moved my children's toys so that they could cut the hedges with their electric trimmers, whilst my children were in the garden. And they had left the gate open!

I was absolutely fuming, demanded that they gave the key back immediately and got off my property. I got the children inside as possible but had to call the police as they carried on cutting, wouldn't leave, then wanted paying!

Cherrysoup · 17/05/2025 13:44

Their fault, their bill. We had a window cleaner mistake our house for the neighbours who wanted him to do their windows. I refused to pay as it was nothing to do with me.

DrPrunesqualer · 17/05/2025 13:57

Izyboo · 17/05/2025 13:39

I had a very similar experience. I hadn't long been in my house. My 8 and 1yr old were in the garden (locked gate). I'd popped upstairs and in those 2 minutes this elderly couple, gardening duo, had unlocked the gate and let themselves into my garden. Moved my children's toys so that they could cut the hedges with their electric trimmers, whilst my children were in the garden. And they had left the gate open!

I was absolutely fuming, demanded that they gave the key back immediately and got off my property. I got the children inside as possible but had to call the police as they carried on cutting, wouldn't leave, then wanted paying!

Blimey
They didn’t leave when you told them to?
What is wrong with people !

PorkyMcChubbington · 17/05/2025 14:55

Needlenardlenoo · 17/05/2025 12:36

Well yes, the OP can do nothing at all, and potentially receive future gardening bills, window cleaning bills, tree care bills...who knows what else these dippy people have forgotten to cancel?!

And she can continue to do nothing.

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 15:05

In this situation I'd suck it up and pay the half. You are not paying for nothing and no bad feelings for anyone.

MintChocCat · 17/05/2025 15:15

YANBU. It is the previous owner’s responsibility. They ought to have informed the gardener that they moved house, and ended the contract.

DebbiePM · 17/05/2025 15:46

Whilst I agree that you can be kind and pay your half, I wouldn't. I'm a retired landscaper who used to do maintenance work as well as landscaping and these things do occur. However it would be the previous owners that I would be chasing up for the total cost. They opened the contract, they should close it. Cheeky beggar's saying they'll pay half. They should be paying total. It's their obligation.
The gardener doing the work will be out of pocket yes, but he'll make it up otherwise. And really he should be talking to the previous people, not yourself.
You could demand that he put the garden back to the state it was before he did it. Oh that would be amusing wouldn't it. I'm only joking ofc. But it does happen sometimes. You know what people are like! 😂

SwingTheMonkey · 17/05/2025 15:49

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 15:05

In this situation I'd suck it up and pay the half. You are not paying for nothing and no bad feelings for anyone.

Why would there be bad feelings? This has nothing to do with op so why would anyone think badly of her? Why is there no bad feeling towards the ones at fault - the previous owners?

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 16:30

SwingTheMonkey · 17/05/2025 15:49

Why would there be bad feelings? This has nothing to do with op so why would anyone think badly of her? Why is there no bad feeling towards the ones at fault - the previous owners?

Show quote history

Looks like it was a genuine mistake. Just what I would do that all

SwingTheMonkey · 17/05/2025 16:46

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 16:30

Looks like it was a genuine mistake. Just what I would do that all

Show quote history

No, I didn’t ask why you’d pay half. I asked why there would be bad feeling towards op? Genuine mistake or not (and I’ve made the same mistake and paid the window cleaner, in full, because it was my mistake, not the new owners) why would anyone have bad feelings towards op? Who would? Why is there no bad feeling towards the previous owner who won’t pay for their own mistake?

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 17:28

SwingTheMonkey · 17/05/2025 16:46

No, I didn’t ask why you’d pay half. I asked why there would be bad feeling towards op? Genuine mistake or not (and I’ve made the same mistake and paid the window cleaner, in full, because it was my mistake, not the new owners) why would anyone have bad feelings towards op? Who would? Why is there no bad feeling towards the previous owner who won’t pay for their own mistake?

Show quote history

I was replying to original poster with my opinion as per post. My answer and opinion was clear. You just look like u want an argument and I'm not interested in corresponding or justifying anything with u.

SwingTheMonkey · 17/05/2025 17:36

Muckybib · 17/05/2025 17:28

I was replying to original poster with my opinion as per post. My answer and opinion was clear. You just look like u want an argument and I'm not interested in corresponding or justifying anything with u.

Show quote history

I simply asked you a question based on your post. It’s how these forums work. I’m presuming you don’t have an answer as to why there should be any bad feeling towards op 🤷🏻‍♀️

Btb · 17/05/2025 17:43

gardendramas5 · 16/05/2025 09:24

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?

Your being cruel to him he’s done work you could at least pay half unless you’re happy being selfish to the poor guy