Hi,
My sister and her young family privately rent a family home but a few weeks ago, whilst pruning some plants, her and two of the children (5 & 7) were pruning giant hogweed without knowing it was that!
They suffered quite bad burns and still have serious scarring weeks later and one nephew had to have his burns dressed for a week.
Once they realised what it was they reported it to the letting agents who said it was up to them to get rid of it. They showed very little warmth and said my sister should put weed killer on it.
They obviously haven't read up on how invasive it is and how hard it is to get rid of it (it has to have multiple applications over a period of months and years). I'm really worried they'll get hurt again and even though my sister pruned it until there was nothing left, it's shot up again to about a foot high.
She called the landlord but he is being really tricky about it, saying she should take the advice from the letting agent.....which wasn't helpful.
Are there any landlords out there who know whether this is the obligation of the landlord?
I believe it is because they know about something that was already in the property garden before my sister rented it and now they know, they have a duty of care to remove it properly.