Anyone here that rents vs owns their property

[meriad]

If you rent and have a garden, please may I ask what arrangement you have with the landlord - who is responsible for the garden maintenance and who provides the equipment?

My upstairs neighbour is a tenant - and she's really really lovely. She is having an issue about the garden that her flat comes with so we're trying to figure out what norm is for rental properties so she has some ammunition (or maybe none - who knows?) when she speaks to the letting agent / landlord.

thanks!

[TheOstrich]

When we rented a 2-bedroom house in Sutton Coldfield for 6 months, Ria, it was our responsibility to look after the small garden and hand it back in the same state we found it, just like the house. We had to do our own mowing for example. The letting agency did do an inspection at the end; making sure no barbecue-damaged grass or patio, so on. But that was a house, not a flat, so I guess you need to look carefully at your agreement - is the garden area communal, for example, or the responsibility of a single tenant?

Master O is renting a flat in Eastbourne, I'll ask him about it (but I have to be honest, don't expect a response anytime soon )

[Suff]

It depends on the rent agreement Ria.

When we rented our house in Scotland out we did it to executive lets, it was more expensive and we provided the equipment, but they were responsible to maintain the garden.

[TheOstrich]

If you're in a "block" of flats, Ria, is there a residents association / annual maintenance charge?

[Kaz]

I think in general the tenants are responsible for maintaining the garden - or not as seems more usual round here! I can tell who owns and who rents the houses on here by the state of their front gardens and drives

I have been a landlady in my time, but it was my flat I let out, so no garden involved. When Martin and I rented a house for six months whilst our bungalow was converted we had to mow the grass etc, same as Ossie.

[Workingman]

Having rented on a few occasions there are a few dos and don'ts, but basically it is down to sensible negotiation between the tenant and landlord.

The landlord is responsible for the garden structures such as paths and fencing and also specialist horticultural work such as tree lopping / pruning.

The tenant has to keep the garden in a fit state (mowing the grass) and to a certain standard, such as how it was when the tenancy started. It is OK to replace plants in borders but not to reconfigure the layout.

Outside of those minimums it is good to talk.

I am currently in one of a number of blocks of flats with communal grounds. The grounds are looked after by a maintenance team who do the mowing ot the green, pruning, etc. With prior permission we tenants can erect a shed / bike store and also create and plant borders by the paths and walls. BBQs are allowed so long as they and any noise made are not a nuisance to others. Decking is allowed but not walled off or paved areas. It's all very relaxed TBH. The maintenance charge is part of the rent.

[cruiser2]

Slightly off key.

I have just had a form from the Land Registry showing that I am the sole owner of the Freehold of the land on which my house sits We bought the freehold
when my wife was still working for a firm of solicitors. All the other hoses in the small Crescent are leasehold with a 999 year lease.
Not heard of any problems but you never know what can happen if leases change hands.

[TheOstrich]

Just had a telephone call from Master O

He says they have a garden - but it is not communal, it's down to the one tenant who has the sole access to it (presumably via a door in their flat) to maintain it,

Basically - "nuffink to do wiv me, guv."

Very wise to buy out the leasehold, Cruiser. My father did the same with our family home. I think the ground rent was something like 12/6d per annum, and the buy-out fee £25 (a lot of money in those days), which shows you how long ago it was ....

[meriad]

thanks all.... M, the tenant upstairs, is responsible for the maintenance of the garden - that is in her lease - and she is happy to do so - but the big question is who should provide the equipment to do so. I personally think it's the responsibility of the owner as the tenant may end up moving into a flat with no garden so why would / should they buy something they may not need?

The big issue now is that the back garden is a completely overgown jungle of brambles. When M viewed the property the back garden was all gravel over weed membrane. She is not a gardener and didn't realise that thing would grow through said membrane (until it was too late) - she thought once gravelled it would always just remain like that. And needs to be said the membrane was laid down with huge gaps so no wonder. The brambles at the time were simply cut down to ground level - nothing was dug out and as most of us will know, brambles will grow through ANYTHING!

She is having a meeting with the letting agent in a few weeks and then they're going to discuss what needs to be done by whom and who has to buy / provide what equipment.

A bit of a mess really and I'm very torn about it all. On the one hand having the garden as neglected as it is, is providing a haven for wildlife and makes my garden more secure because you can't get to my fence (her garden backs onto mine), but on the other hand the brambles are a nuisance

[meriad]

Slightly off key.

I have just had a form from the Land Registry showing that I am the sole owner of the Freehold of the land on which my house sits We bought the freehold
when my wife was still working for a firm of solicitors. All the other hoses in the small Crescent are leasehold with a 999 year lease.
Not heard of any problems but you never know what can happen if leases change hands.

If I could buy my freehold I would cruiser, but I'm in a block of four maisonette's - currently the council is the leaseholder and it works fine with minimum ground rent etc. But you are right with your last sentence; it is a worry should the council ever decide to sell off the freeholds to private businesses...