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?

Apparently the old owners were a bit awkward over the conveyancing. It's still bothering her two years later.

This is what you said in an earlier post. Op didn’t own the house 2 years ago, she bought it a few months ago. Therefore the issue with the conveyancing hasn’t bothered her for 2 years. Reading comprehension is important.

What if OP is experiencing financial difficulty? I don’t think she should be responsible for paying. She did not agree to the service.

Of course she doesn't have to pay and I agree she shouldn't have to pay BUT, personally I would pay but that's just me. I'd feel sorry for the gardener losing out and you would have had half price gardening. But ike i said that's just me and what would make me feel comfortable and how id see the situation. It's all pretty small fry in the grander scheme of things. Did she mention the cost? We've probably destroyed a couple of gardens with the energy input of this ridiculously long thread!

It might be pretty small fry to you, but it's inevitably going to be a fair chunk of money - which could indeed make a very significant difference to many people.

We don't know the actual cost this time, but I'd bet it's likely to be a minimum of £2-300 in total - and probably more than that. It's not going to be a fiver, is it?

I don't feel sorry for a gardener who runs his/her business in a slipshod manner.

A fair cop, a misread on my part. I could just say her annoyance may still be quite raw instead, if I felt I had to have the last word. But at least it wouldn't be a hysterical catty one. Pleas stop giving us girls a bad name.

Describing women as ‘hysterical and catty’ is incredibly misogynistic. Please stop.

If she is facing financial difficulty to that degree, that changes things. I suppose we can only go on what we're privy to .

No, I don't think that and that's not what I stated.

I was reacting to you being unreasonable and shitty. Please don't say I'm misogynistic. Please stop.

coming round to ninja clean your windows too!

No part of what I said to you was unreasonable and shitty. I pointed out that the pp was right when she said you’d not read the op correctly. You’re over sensitive.

All.im saying is that's what I'd do. This is subjective so let people have an opinion that's different to yours. You wouldn't pay and that's fine.

All.im saying is that's what I'd do. This is subjective so let people have an opinion that's different to yours. You wouldn't pay and that's fine.

Perhaps it would have helped if you'd quoted the post you were replying to, then.

Why , can't you remember your own post ?

You weren't replying to me. You were apparently replying to someone who suggested suing for damages. Confusing, isn't it.

No. I was replying to you.

I can’t believe how long this thread has gone on for - and now it appears people are just arguing with one another.

You must have had terribly legal advice to have lost this case. What were the reasons you lost as you’ve wouldn't have had a legal contract with however did the work?

You're just trying to waste people's time and giggling to yourself now, aren't you. Do you honestly think this is some knid of achievement?

Often happens on here, I think it's so strange though!

I can’t think of anything worse than bickering on an online forum - I would simply disengage!

The reason given was that the work had been done so had to be paid for, and the person doing it had no reason to think that the instructions came from someone with no authority to order it. Our only recourse would have been to take action against that person to recover the cost. Given that the amount owing was only £200-300 it wasn’t worth spending many hundreds more to do that.