Driveway gate problem

[M_A_A_B]

We have a driveway that is in our garden IYKWIM and when we moved in it had big wooden gates (over 6' tall) almost as high as the hedge. No one could look in or jump over them and they made the place a bit more secure.

 

During the storms one of the gates came off and the other was damaged beyond repair (also due to kids kicking them).....we informed our landlord about a month or so ago.

 

He came round to sort it out today but I have just had a look at he has put in the wrought iron type gates which are less than half the size of our original gates and see-through! Not only will this mean we have no privacy in our garden but they are easy to jump over and I'm worried about people getting in our garden as we live in a pretty rough area.

 

Can we request taller, wooden gates like we had originally and the landlord would have to put them in? It's for our privacy and safety as well as in his interest to protect the house and garden...it is his after all!

 

Thanks in advance

[M_A_A_B]

can anyone help please? I need to know if there is anything I can do fairly soon as I'm going to write a letter to my landlord.

 

He also left the old gates just laying on our grass....is it up to us to have to dispose of them? Or should my landlord do that?

[callumsgran]

Your landlord is responsible for disposing of the old gates, and i'm no expert but i would think the landlord is entitled to replace the gates with whatever he likes as its his house and has fulfilled his obligation to replace them.

I may be wrong, just hang fire until someone more experienced in these matters come along ok?

[MrShed]

To be honest, this one has me stumped! But yes cb is correct, he is responsible for the removal of the old gates. I am inclined to lie on the side that you are probably entitled to have the gates restored to the original kind, but it is VERY dubious either way! I would probably leave it as is.

[M_A_A_B]

thank you for your replies....perhaps if I explain my concerns to my landlord and offer to pay part of the cost for new, proper sized gates that might help

 

I'll write him a letter about removing the old gates as well....

[MrShed]

That would be my suggestion MAAB - in a polite way, just suggest to him that you dont feel the new gates are as secure as the old ones.

[M_A_A_B]

That's what I'm going to do Luckily, our neighbour is a chippy so will be able to give us a quote as well which I can include in my letter.

 

Thank you for the advice

[Nightmare4banks]

MAAB,in reply to your post and in my view:

 

1.The landlord must remove his rubbish.

 

2.The landlord is not obligated to put the exact replacement gate.

 

3.However,what you have suggested seems reasonable if you want a higher gate and the landlord is not bothered about the security etc.

 

4.Be comprimising with your landlord rather than confrontational and you should hopefully acheive the results you want.

 

I hope you find this information useful.

 

If you any questions,just ask.

[M_A_A_B]

Thank you, that does clarify all the information. I dont intend to be confrontational with him...I just wanted to know where I stood on this matter

 

If there anything anywhere that I can quote in my letter to say he has to remove the rubbish? If there is that would be great as I dont want to have to argue my case if he disagrees that it's his responsability.

[Nightmare4banks]

MAAB,in reply to your last post:

 

1.I never said you were going to be confrontational but I am giving some sound guidance based on many years experience which at the end it is up to you to take on board or not.

 

Anyway,after that rant lol! -

 

2.Say a little porky that someone complained about it being an eyesore and was going to report it to the council if it was not moved shortly.

 

3.Also you do not want your landlord to have any problems or waste his money if the council gets involved.

 

4.He will then think that you are a really considerate tenant.The rubbish removal is for his benefit and not yours.However,in fact it is for you.

 

Catch my drift?

[M_A_A_B]

could you let me know what you think of my letter please??

 

 

Dear *******,

I would like to bring to your attention the problem we have with the driveway gates. We appreciate you putting up the new ones but we are both worried about the security of the house and garden as they are very low and leave it very exposed. In fact, we have still be getting problems with children and teenagers running through the garden and throwing things often at the windows. We would ideally like high gates that do not leave the driveway exposed, like the ones that were here when we moved in. We are willing to obtain quotes for them ourselves and offer to pay part of the costs. We think it will be worth it to keep the property secure.

Also, I have been reliably informed that it is not our responsibility to remove the old gates which are currently on the lawn area at the side of the house. If you could remove them at your convenience we would be very grateful.

Yours sincerely

Amy S

Or instead of the last paragraph I could say that the children who have been getting into the garden have been breaking bits off of the old gates and throwing them around the streets. The council will charge us to remove the rubbish so could Mr Landlord please remove them at his convenience

(This is true BTW)

Actually, I think I'm going to add the bit about the kids instead anyway...but please let me know

[blacksheep1979]

Maybe hold off on the removing of gates until he has agreed to replace them - keep him on side etc and not ask for too much at once. Also once (if) agreeing to replace the gates it'll be easier for him to just use the same workmen to remove the old gates as well.

[M_A_A_B]

the old gates I'm refering to have been left on our grass...the landlord put the new gates up himself but, IMO, they arent suitable. He never seems to use workmen, he just botches jobs himself....also, I said in the letter that we would find someone to put up more suitable gates as our neighbour will be able to do it.

[blacksheep1979]

Just saying that it may rub him up the wrong way a little saying its not our responsibility to do xyz when you are sort of asking him for a favour - ask the favour then tell him of your rights

[M_A_A_B]

as everyone else in this thread have pointed out, it's my landlord's responsability to remove the rubbish (ie old gates laying on the grass)....so I dont consider that asking him for a favour......and by offering to obtain quotes for and pay for part of the new gates that I think are necessary will save him having to come out to fix other problems caused by the kids that are getting in the garden throwing stuff at the windows (it happened again tonight)....so I dont consider that a favour to him either.....not really sure which bit you consider a favour. If he would have put up gates like we had here when we signed the contract and cleared away his rubbish there would be no need to send him a letter in the first place IMO

[blacksheep1979]

I was saying that the fitting of new gates more akin to what you were after is a favour, the removing of rubbish isn't - its your rights.

 

If you go telling him to remove rubbish you may rub him up the wrong way, something that can be done after you ask him for what is essentially a favour and something he doesn't have to do (change the gates).

[M_A_A_B]

fair enough I see your point....but he wont be changing the gates, just paying for part of it (hopefully) and that is going to take a while to get sorted....so in the mean time we have kids getting into our garden and chucking the rubbish he left all around the streets

[knoxvillain]

have you actually had problems with people coming on your property since the gates were replaced?

[M_A_A_B]

yes, the gates are very low so can be easily stepped over and, because they are the wrought iron type ones, you can open the gates from the outside (you couldnt with the old ones) almost every night we've had kids in the garden, throwing around the rubbish left by the landlord, often at the windows....as I said, we live in a pretty bad area. This is especially worrying for me as I'm disabled and my boyfriend often works late.