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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:
IllustratedDictionaryOfTheDoldrums · 16/05/2025 12:09

I find it very weird that he would just turn up without contacting anyone. Maybe if the house had just been sold but that was December.
Do people normally have trades people who just turn up without notice and do a job after not being in contact for months or confirming prices or time.
Surely, he'd send a message like "Hey Bob, I'm expecting to be there Tuesday for the garden work. Let me know if inconvenient."
Its not just that the house could have been sold but anything could have happened. The owner could have passed away for example or maybe they have a garden party planned that day.
Odd way of doing business.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 12:09

Viviennemary · 16/05/2025 12:09

I think you should pay up. Of course you aren't legally obliged to and the old owners should pay the full amount . If they refuse then I think you should pay as a gesture of goodwill.

Why does the OP owe anyone goodwill?

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 16/05/2025 12:09

I remember chatting to my next door neighbour when they first moved in and they mentioned that they had contacted the gardeners that had done the garden for the previous owner for a quote. I can't remember how much she said it was, but I do remember that I yelped "WHAT!?" and she said "I know, right? So that's why we've bought the full range of garden machinery and we are doing it ourselves"

There is no way that I would be able to just casually hand over even half of that amount, and there is no way that I would be paying that sort of money for something I could easily do myself.

FigTreeInEurope · 16/05/2025 12:10

I order a cake from a bakery, I forget to pick it up. After a few days, Baker gives it to their kids as it's just going to go off any way, should kids pay half the value of the cake?

What if the op is a no dig enthusiast, and wanted the long grass to use as a mulch? What is an accident had happened on her land, was she properly covered?

The gardener is slack, the previous owners are slack. That's all there is to it. CF to ask for half.

purpleme12 · 16/05/2025 12:10

I think you're right OP
Just don't pay
You didn't ask or know it was being done

PsychoHotSauce · 16/05/2025 12:11

I'm not suggesting the gardener is dishonest, but have you spoken to the previous owners? Because he could easily say they've only paid half when they've actually already settled the bill in full. I think you need to know from them exactly what's happened before you decide to do (or not do) anything.

PorkyMcChubbington · 16/05/2025 12:13

AthWat · 16/05/2025 12:08

Not legally. He was contracted to provide a service in May, he came and did it. The person who contracted him, the previous owner, has to pay. He needs to be taking them to court, and he will win.

Edited
Show quote history

I agree. But I still think it's mad to turn up and do work without communication. This kind of thing is bound to happen, he's taking a big risk that can be fixed with a simple phone call.

billybear · 16/05/2025 12:14

surely when thdont pay not your problemey came they could tell someone had been doing the garden since their last visit,

SwingTheMonkey · 16/05/2025 12:14

I did the same thing as your previous owners and forgot to tell the window cleaner we’d moved out. He contacted me after he’d been to clean the windows in our old house and I, of course, paid him. It was entirely my mistake and I can’t begin to imagine what sort of CF I’d be to ask the new owners to split the bill because they now had nice, clean windows.

Lolalaboucheridesagain · 16/05/2025 12:14

Legally, it’s not your bill to pay. But morally I think you should go halves. It’s a one off. And you are benefitting from his work.

Spirallingdownwards · 16/05/2025 12:14

This is a hell no from me.

Their contract their liability.

Stand firm.

Arcticsway · 16/05/2025 12:15

Obviously the previous owner should pay in full, he should pursue them to do so.

But you say that if you do want a gardener in future, you would choose him. He may be reluctant to work for you in future if this ends up leaving him out of pocket. And he has done work you're seemingly pleased with so I might pay the half. It's up to you.

AthWat · 16/05/2025 12:15

PorkyMcChubbington · 16/05/2025 12:13

I agree. But I still think it's mad to turn up and do work without communication. This kind of thing is bound to happen, he's taking a big risk that can be fixed with a simple phone call.

Show quote history

That would certainly be what I would do in his position.

JustMyView13 · 16/05/2025 12:18

Everyone suggesting OP should pay is failing to consider that they neither contracted for the work to be completed, nor do they necessarily have the funds available to pay for it.
This is a dispute between the previous owners & the company. OP is just the lucky beneficiary of their poor admin.

Spirallingdownwards · 16/05/2025 12:18

Lolalaboucheridesagain · 16/05/2025 12:14

Legally, it’s not your bill to pay. But morally I think you should go halves. It’s a one off. And you are benefitting from his work.

Nonsense - legally the prior owners had the contract. Morally they shouldn't be lumbering the OP with their obligations. It's May - she has been their 5 months. They had ample time to cancel.

Bollocks to morally the OP should pay.

What happens if next a hog roast provider tips up to do the prior owner's annual garden party should she pay for that? What if an annual Christmas turkey is delivered, should she pay for that? Extreme examples I knkw but just the same answer. No she did not contract with the gardener. The onus is legally and morally on the prior owner to pay.

BellissimoGecko · 16/05/2025 12:19

YANBU at all! Not your contract. Nothing to do with you.

Spirallingdownwards · 16/05/2025 12:21

Arcticsway · 16/05/2025 12:15

Obviously the previous owner should pay in full, he should pursue them to do so.

But you say that if you do want a gardener in future, you would choose him. He may be reluctant to work for you in future if this ends up leaving him out of pocket. And he has done work you're seemingly pleased with so I might pay the half. It's up to you.

No she says if she were to use a gardener she already knows one and that it is the one she already knows she woukd hire not their guy.

SwingTheMonkey · 16/05/2025 12:21

Arcticsway · 16/05/2025 12:15

Obviously the previous owner should pay in full, he should pursue them to do so.

But you say that if you do want a gardener in future, you would choose him. He may be reluctant to work for you in future if this ends up leaving him out of pocket. And he has done work you're seemingly pleased with so I might pay the half. It's up to you.

She didn’t say that? She said she’d already used a gardener at her old property that she’d use again if she wanted one in the future.

TenderChicken · 16/05/2025 12:22

I do grounds/ gardening for a living.

When the gardener showed up, it will have been very obvious that someone had been maintaining the garden. If no one had, the grass would be knee-high by now, borders would have large weeds, etc. That would have been the, "Wait, let's ring the client" moment.

The gardener sounds disorganised at best (why haven't they checked in with the client, or come before now?) or a chancer at worst.

I wouldn't pay.

Teaandtoastandhoney · 16/05/2025 12:24

YANBU. The seller’s responsibility. I’m forever forgetting to cancel things and I would never expect the current owner to pay if I’d done that.

I also think it’s out of order for them to claim you’ve benefited from someone coming onto your property without you knowing. I would feel very uncomfortable about what has happened if I was in your shoes. It’s not for you to now have to play nice with the gardener, it’s between the gardener and the sellers.

Welshmonster · 16/05/2025 12:24

Not your problem. It’s not like it’s a permanent benefit as grass grows. Tell the gardener he will need to take previous owners to small claims court to recover the money. You don’t owe the previous owners anything.

Gardener should have made contact with the previous owners to check they wanted it done before he did the work. What if they didn’t want it done and were away?

not your problem.

Arcticsway · 16/05/2025 12:25

@Spirallingdownwards
@SwingTheMonkey

Oh thanks, I misread. In that case I wouldn't pay (although I'd feel a bit sorry for him).

MrsSlocombesCat · 16/05/2025 12:26

You're not legally obliged to pay but if it was me I would pay half. It's saved you some work and some time. Gardeners work hard.

ThinWomansBrain · 16/05/2025 12:27

If he was keeping it tidy and presentable while the property was for sale, a gap of presumably at least six months seems improbable.
Realistically, you wouldn't need to do much in the garden after October, OP purchased the property in December - if nothing had been done by mid May the garden would be looking pretty wild an unkempt by now.
Sounds to me as if the gardener was chancing his arm to keep the job.

Didimum · 16/05/2025 12:28

The issue is with the client, not the specific garden, where it is or who it belongs too. The gardener needs to insist to his (previous) client and say he will take it to small claims court if not paid. I'd feel sorry for the gardener too – you can kindly advise him what to do, but do not pay him.