Renting and living with Landlady

CWF

Bh

Fann Linn

CWF wrote: »

In this situation, who should cut the grass? She has hinted at me doing it, I know she wants me to but probably won't ask out straight.
It'd be a good hour and half work, once a week or more coming into the summer. Last time it was cut was last August, she paid someone time, before that I did it because I had just moved in and wanted to impress I suppose. Would love to hear your thoughts. No lease signed. I'm a 29 year old male the landlady is in her 40s and goes to the gym, runs etc so she isn't immobile by any means.

Next thing then you'll be marrying her.

CWF

Fann Linn wrote: »

Next thing then you'll be marrying her.

Haha that's precisely what I'm afraid of

ruahead

Does doing it once imply it's your job forever ? Do it if you want to , if you're going to be sitting in the garden etc I suppose she owns the place so technically it's up to her.

godtabh

CWF wrote: »

In this situation, who should cut the grass? She has hinted at me doing it, I know she wants me to but probably won't ask out straight.
It'd be a good hour and half work, once a week or more coming into the summer. Last time it was cut was last August, she paid someone time, before that I did it because I had just moved in and wanted to impress I suppose. Would love to hear your thoughts. No lease signed. I'm a 29 year old male the landlady is in her 40s and goes to the gym, runs etc so she isn't immobile by any means.

If this isn’t an intro to a prono I dont know what is

wildwillow

Do it only if you are given a rent reduction in line with what it would cost her to have it done. You are her tenant (I presume, nothing more)not her handyman. Doing it herself will give her a workout!

CWF

wildwillow wrote: »

Do it only if you are given a rent reduction in line with what it would cost her to have it done. You are her tenant (I presume, nothing more)not her handyman. Doing it herself will give her a workout!

That's exactly what I thought. Yeah I'm just renting, nothing more. Thanks

CWF

ruahead wrote: »

Does doing it once imply it's your job forever ? Do it if you want to , if you're going to be sitting in the garden etc I suppose she owns the place so technically it's up to her.

Yeah that's a fair point.

Franz Von Peppercorn

On the other hand... you probably are a licensee so you might want to keep her sweet.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

CWF

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

On the other hand... you probably are a licensee so you might want to keep her sweet.

What do you mean!?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

CWF

Patww79 wrote: »

It's not up to you to do it and you shouldn't have to do it, but you will have to do it given the situation.

Why do you think?

Franz Von Peppercorn

CWF wrote: »

What do you mean!?

In general if you live with an owner you don’t have the rights of a tenant, although people often confuse the two.

You have very few rights as a licensee. She can kick you out with minimum notice.

DJIMI TRARORE

Just cut it,it's only 1.5 hrs per week,it'll give u exercise and fresh air. PS: do u have much spare time

davo10

wildwillow wrote: »

Do it only if you are given a rent reduction in line with what it would cost her to have it done. You are her tenant (I presume, nothing more)not her handyman. Doing it herself will give her a workout!

Actually the op is a licensee if he lives with the property owner, nothing more than a guest in the house. She can boot him out whenever she likes, so as Franz posted, it might be worth keeping her sweet.

ted1

How big is the garden ? An hour and a half sounds excessive.

Brego888

I'd just tell her if you want me to cut it I can this time but I don't want it to become my job.
If you talk about it in a good humoured way it'll be fine.

Wesser

An hour a d a half a week!! ??
Holy F that must be a massive lawn

Tell her to buy one of those husqvarna auto mowers.

JeffKenna

Is she good looking?

StupidLikeAFox

Landlord, do you remember when I mowed your lawn? (mowed your lawn)
You came out with just a towel on (towel on)
I could tell you like me from the way you stared (the way you stared)
And the way you said, "You missed a spot over there." (a spot over there)

Mrs OBumble

Offer to do it every 2nd week, if she does it in the intervening weeks.

myshirt

I'm starting to fear the op is not referring to a garden in the traditional sense, but moreso the biblical sense.

If correct op, you need to get out of there. More and more we are hearing cases like this. It's taking advantage and plainly it's not worth it. This lady hasn't tidied up her garden since August? It's now May. Let that sink in. I shudder to think of how bad it is.

Lawnmo

Must be some lawn if it'll take an hour and a half!! Would probably take you half an hour. Go out and do it. You're over thinking it and who knows, you might enjoy it. If you feel you wont, just do a rubbish job so she wont ask you again

fleet

Depends on what your rent and bills come to.

If it's tuppence ha'penney then cut the grass.
If it's market rates then she can pay someone to do it.

davo10

fleet wrote: »

Depends on what your rent and bills come to.

If it's tuppence ha'penney then cut the grass.
If it's market rates then she can pay someone to do it.

its an awkward one, but I can't see the rental continuing if the op refuses.

But apart from that , healthy 29 year old male refuses to cut lawn for lady in house where he lives, times have certainly changed.

In tenancy agreements where the landlord does not live in the property, upkeep of the garden by the tenant is usually a condition of the lease.

0lddog

What if you cant ( abroad / ill / holiday etc ) for several weeks / months ?

What if lawnmower stops working ? ( will it me your fault ? / do you have to repair it ?)

What if she isnt happy with the way you do it ?

What if...
What if...
What if...

davo10

0lddog wrote: »

What if you cant ( abroad / ill / holiday etc ) for several weeks / months ?

What if lawnmower stops working ? ( will it me your fault ? / do you have to repair it ?)

What if she isnt happy with the way you do it ?

What if...
What if...
What if...

What if, you remembered it's cutting grass, not adding on an extension. It's pretty simple to do.

I'd take my top off and do it,
You might get a "Ride-on-mower" after that.........

Teyla Emmagan

The lazy cow should do if herself. You are not live in labour. And I really doubt doing a bad job would put her off, if she hasn't cut it since August she'll take anything.

davo10

CWF wrote: »

It's just a regular front and back lawn in an semi detached housing estate. It's not that big at all it's just it would take forever because the grass is so bloody long after not being cut in nearly a year! Plus the lawnmower has a tiny collector so it needs to be emptied every couple of minutes, using her tiny electrical fly mo.

"Take forever"? Jesus wept, are you 13?

Cut it at high setting without the collector box the first time, rake it up, then cut quickly with the box on at a lower setting.

SteM

CWF wrote: »

It's just a regular front and back lawn in an semi detached housing estate. It's not that big at all it's just it would take forever because the grass is so bloody long after not being cut in nearly a year! Plus the lawnmower has a tiny collector so it needs to be emptied every couple of minutes, using her tiny electrical fly mo.

So it's not going to take 90 minutes every week. Might take a while the first time, then it'll be quick enough and easy to maintain.

wildwillow

OK you are a licencee but you are still paying for your room and she is getting that money tax free if availing of rent a room. The tax she is saving would easily pay for a regular cut and give employment to someone else.
She is a young fit woman who needs to maintain her own property. Are you going to be responsible for the actual lawnmower? What happens if a stone flies and breaks a window?
Do you actually make use of the garden for relaxation. When did you last do work free of charge for any other service provider? Sweep the floor after a hair cut, tidy the forecourt when buying fuel.

doolox

I would not do it. Let her get a professional mower to do the work. I am lucky that I rent a house that is paved front and back so no bother.

Let her get a pet goat to keep the grass short or get rid of the grass.

Most people have too much to do to be bothered with grass in an urban setting.

James 007

I would be inclined to do it, but hint to something on the side if you know what I mean.

CWF

Mods can you delete this thread please to protect my anonymity please. Thanks.

SNNUS

Too late! Caught ya!

the purple tin

First the lawn, then 'you know, the house could use a lick of paint now that summers here'. Then 'those windows are a bit dirty' and 'The hedge could do with a trim'.
Only do her oddjobs if you want to and make sure you get paid a decent rate for it.

Bruisedego

Female here, house shared for years. Cannot believe you wouldn't offer to do it. It's a bit of grass. Glad I always shared with nice guys who just saw things to be done and did them. Says a lot about a person to be honest...

the purple tin

OmegaGene wrote: »

She hasn’t even asked him to cut the lawn this is all guess work on the side of the op

She's hinting at it and waiting for him to offer his services free of charge. Then if he gets sick of doing it she can say 'but I didn't ask you to do it, you offered'.
OP if she keeps hinting just tell her 'I know a great gardener, very reasonble. Do you want his number?'

davo10

the purple tin wrote: »

She's hinting at it and waiting for him to offer his services free of charge. Then if he gets sick of doing it she can say 'but I didn't ask you to do it, you offered'.
OP if she keeps hinting just tell her 'I know a great gardener, very reasonble. Do you want his number?'

Yip, her reply should be "take a hike snowflake".

CWF

davo10 wrote: »

Yip, her reply should be "take a hike snowflake".

I tried cutting the grass there and just gave up. My tampon fell out when taking out the collector box to empty it.
Now I know why she didn't want to do it in the first place!

endofrainbow

no drinking and driving if it's a ride on mower

davo10

CWF wrote: »

I tried cutting the grass there and just gave up. My tampon fell out when taking out the collector box to empty it.
Now I know why she didn't want to do it in the first place!

What? Sorry op, I thought you said you are a 29 year old man, my apologies the landlady was bang out of order.

James 007

CWF wrote: »

I tried cutting the grass there and just gave up. My tampon fell out when taking out the collector box to empty it.
Now I know why she didn't want to do it in the first place!

You need to shove it further up your ass as you cut the grass!;)

Pelvis

There's a special place in hell reserved for people who use the term snowflake.

I don't see an issue with cutting the grass once in a while, but every week is ridiculous. Once a month is more reasonable.

davo10

Pelvis wrote: »

There's a special place in hell reserved for people who use the term snowflake.

I don't see an issue with cutting the grass once in a while, but every week is ridiculous. Once a month is more reasonable.

Rarely, but some times it is apt.

wirelessdude01

CWF wrote:

I tried cutting the grass there and just gave up. My tampon fell out when taking out the collector box to empty it. Now I know why she didn't want to do it in the first place!

Didn't you say you were a man?

SteM

Bruisedego wrote: »

Female here, house shared for years. Cannot believe you wouldn't offer to do it. It's a bit of grass. Glad I always shared with nice guys who just saw things to be done and did them. Says a lot about a person to be honest...

He's not sharing to be fair, it's his landlady. That's a different relationship to sharing a rented property with someone where you are all on an equal footing.

Ronin247

CWF wrote: »

I tried cutting the grass there and just gave up. My tampon fell out when taking out the collector box to empty it.
Now I know why she didn't want to do it in the first place!

davo10 wrote: »

What? Sorry op, I thought you said you are a 29 year old man, my apologies the landlady was bang out of order.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Didn't you say you were a man?

Just goes to show when someone mentions Tampons half the fellas lose the train of thought....Check the batteries on the old sarcasm meters perhaps??

Franz Von Peppercorn

This thread got fierce gendered.