fortune Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) Someone that I work with has bought an ex council house and the next door neighbours are still council. the neighbours don't look after their garden at all, and it is overgrown with large brambles and ivy. he wants to put up a new fence but the growth is incredible. The neighbours have no intention or the will to get out and clear it up. He has asked the council about this and they say that the garden maintenance is down to the occupier and not their problem. Is this right? Surely they have a responsibility because they own and rent out the property and are allowing a weed problem to migrate over onto his property. What can he do about this? apart from going next door and setting the bloke on fire verbally, causing bad feelings between him and his neighbour. Edited July 5, 2016 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Would imagine it will depend wot is in their lease/tennancy agreements. Only had private leases and it usually makes some clause about up keep of garden and they can charge tennant if they have to send someone in to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Most councils are very keen to make sure tenants gardens are not overgrown or detract ftom the general appearance of the area. There's also the attendant risk of it becoming a haven for rats. The council SHOULD be on top of this being sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Keepping your garden tidy is part of the tenancy agreement in the local authority area that I live , the council used to be pretty hot on this , the problem now is that most local authorities are flat broke and have no money to enforce this kind of thing. It might be an idea for your mate to offer to help the neighbor, it might just embarrass them into sorting it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Has he tried speaking to the neighbour about the fence suggesting he clears the edge for them? A strimmer and application of roundup should take care of it for a while and they would probably happily let him do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollieollie Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 inform them of the growing rat problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 inform them of the growing rat problem This is the answer. The council will then serve an environmental health notice on the occupiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbietherimmer Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Can't understand how folk can allow their garden to get into a state- I believe that how you present your garden says a lot about the occupier. Lazy beeps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Can't understand how folk can allow their garden to get into a state- I believe that how you present your garden says a lot about the occupier. Lazy beeps I know what you mean, but it's not just tenanted properties, plenty of owner-occupied properties have rampant and dreadful gardens. To the OP, the best way would be to offer to clear it. Failing that, the rat angle would certainly do the trick. Best of luck! LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Most council workers just want a quiet life and know that they are never going to get the tenant to comply so would rather not get involved. If the garden is in a state the rest of the house will be too. Easier to just blank you and carry on doing the crossword Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 In my neck of the woods a letter is served, advising the tenant to make good, or the council enforce the work and bill said tenant! Also, there is a community charge that can be paid annually for someone to come and do your garden for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Many years ago when I was doing up my first house, I concentrated on the inside and let the garden go a bit. Someone reported me to the council who sent me a letter ordering me to tidy up the garden. If I didn't, they would do it for me and send me a bill. This was a private house, never been a council house. So, if they can do that to a private owner, then surely they will do it for their own properties? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Keepping your garden tidy is part of the tenancy agreement in the local authority area that I live , the council used to be pretty hot on this , the problem now is that most local authorities are flat broke and have no money to enforce this kind of thing. It might be an idea for your mate to offer to help the neighbor, it might just embarrass them into sorting it out. Thats what I did next door used to leave allsorts on the front on there newly built extension and drive, a brand new drive was littered with the contents of cars, carboot sale bags just left on the front, the kids bikes and shoes etc etc, any way one afternoon i cleared it all and put it around the back for them, i told him id moved it so it didnt get nicked, and to stop your lovely new drive looking like steptoes yard He got the message!!! Offer to help or just do it and embarrass the lazy *****, I can understand if they are elderly or cant do it due to ilness etc etc, but if not they are just lazy tramps and as has been said the outside usually reflects the inside, Scruffy **** need to get off there backsides, Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 I'm currently working in an empty council property and feel sorry for the neighbours. Their garden is pristine, this one is totally overgrown. Part of the works is to cut back all the overgrown shrubs and trees. No onus on the previous tenant, these works will be funded by the council. I'd say there's three days work at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted July 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 He has been on to the council about it and all they say that they are responsible for is the front garden and it is up to the tenant to sort out the back garden so take it up with the tenant. Some chance there. I've said to him that they would say that because it involves trying to actually do something constructive and if he just takes it then they haven't got to live there with it. The woman on the other side is about as bad with dog muck in the back garden ect. I also suggested that he might ask the C/A what the score is and which way to go. Some people should just have a concrete box instead of a house and some would make Buckingham Palace into a tip inside six months. It reminds me of that bloke that won the lottery and bought a really nice place and turned the gardens into a banger racing and moto cross track. The neighbors weren't best pleased at the drunks and the noise. The blokes didn't mind viewing all of the naked girls at the mad parties but their wives were up in arms about it. He lost everything eventually and ended up inside for drug stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted July 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Is there any sort of law that the bloke could hammer the council with for allowing their tenants / themselves to allow invasive plants weeds / foliage to migrate onto neighbouring properties and the amount of junk and clutter to detract from the value of their house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Just chuck some petrol on it and light it. Job's a good Un. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted July 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Just chuck some petrol on it and light it. Job's a good Un. I said set them alight, verbally. Not go round there with a gallon of petrol. It's not conducive to good neighborhood relations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 I have the same problem, I've bought a ex council house and next doors garden is wild ! You would think it's a small wood not a garden. I've rang the council because it's pushing my fence panels out but they don't want to know. The next door neighbour is a very strange old man and very dirty and he doesn't want to know when I offer to help him tidy the garden up. I've given up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Spray a load of roundup over the fence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 I said set them alight, verbally. Not go round there with a gallon of petrol. It's not conducive to good neighborhood relations Oh sorry I didn't realise they wanted regular invites to the family barbecues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted July 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Oh sorry I didn't realise they wanted regular invites to the family barbecues. How would you like rat sir? Rare, or well done? And would you care for one or two of these funny sausage things? They're quite aromatic at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Being on here you must have guns,so,be sneaky roundup takes time to work,seems to work even in the DARK..Wait a few weeks,Then put your Fence up..!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 I gave my neighbours laylandi a good dose of roundup and that killed it off. He couldn't understand why his fir tree had gone brown. I told him it was due to the soil. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted July 6, 2016 Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 Yep, Too much Rain,, Not Enough Rain,,etc,etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.