Hi all,
An "am I being reasonable here" question. Most of my work is rental properties, year-round contracts with the landlord through an agent. As a one-man business, I include a paragraph in the terms I give each tenant as follows:
In the interests of hygiene, please ensure your garden is kept clear of dog mess. Lawns should be cleared of all furniture, toys etc. in advance of each visit. Large trampolines need to be moved to a different part of the lawn weekly to avoid damage to the grass, this is not something I can do unless agreed in advance. Any damage caused to the lawn will be charged to the tenant.
This seems perfectly reasonable, as the tenant isn't paying my fees why should they expect me to move the table and chairs, BBQ, climbing frame, paddling pool, thousands of plastic toys, clear up their dog's mess, and then cut the grass?
A local gardener put his back out moving a large trampoline last year, and had to take the rest of the year off, prompting me to add the "trampoline" clause. I've not seen him yet this year, in fact. The problem is, I've taken over three gardens for one landlord and all three tenants have complained, saying the last gardeners moved the huge trampolines themselves, they don't have time, it's my job and should be part of the service.
Given that the landlords fired the last gardeners for not doing the job well, I anticipate the landlord will agree with me; the agent is certainly happy with my thinking that the tenant is responsible for keeping the garden clear on the day I visit. I'm just wondering whether you would consider it unreasonable of me not to want to risk dragging 20' trampolines around for someone who's not even paying me? All the tenants are Americans, I guess they have teams of people at home rather than sole-traders.
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Replies
Paul, I have a few customers who have items like this in their garden. Its in my terms and conditions that I won't move any such item ' due to the risk of personal injury or damage to any item concerned'.
Hence most customers move them themselves - the ones that don't I mow/strim around as much as possible - if it kills their grass (as I have explained to them that it will) - my view is it's their problem.
I think you are being perfectly reasonable - I am assuming more than one physically capable person lives at each property?
I move everything and the add the time it takes to the invoice - some customers are disabled and cant move planters/pots etc - im fit and id rather charge and provide the service than not charge and not provide it.
With the customers being American, they must have an understanding of lawsuits for personal injury. Redraft a set of T&Cs which specifically pass liability for any personal injury OR damage to items during moving or when mowing whilst items are left in situ to the tenants. That'll get those fat american butts moving.
same here Paul,
I have just one garden with a huge trampoline (they are incidentally American too) I just drag it out of the way, it's not that heavy.
Paul @ PPCH Services said:
If its easy to move, then it is only a few seconds inconvenience, however i think OP is looking to cover himself should anything happen , which i think is wise in this day and age. One person i worked for injured himself by lifting a 2x2 riven slab and turning too fast on the lift up. He was off work for 4 months and has not laid slabs since. In our profession, a bad back injury can = game over.
andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance said:
I agree although on occasions i have asked them to help if they want the lawns cut under the trampoline and they seem fine i am sure dog mess will be another problem if they leave ther garden full of dog poo i wonder wht the house is like!!!
Furniture etc is a pain in the bum. For large trampolines, are they 'pegged' down to stop them blowing away in the wind? If so, mow round them. Like wise the dog mess, mow around it. When the customer complains, explain to them yet again, you dont clear up their sh*t & you are not allowed to move the trampoline (according to your insurance co) as you may be liable if their wee kiddie breaks their kneck as it wasnt pegged down correctly.
We move tables and chairs and loungers around the pool, I think thats fair. You only move them once, leave it to the customer to put them back where they want
Steve
Thanks for the replies. Reasonable sized trampolines are fine to move on your own, but a 20' one, with the extra side poles and netting, that's sunk in to the ground a couple of inches over weeks of heavy use by loads of teenagers, is asking for trouble. Also, dragging them they can rip up the grass. Why should I risk putting my back out for someone who's not paying me?
My point is more should I do this for the tenant in order to keep them happy. I can't add it to the invoice, they don't pay me. Should I increase the landlord's invoice if the tenant doesn't abide by my terms? My work is always trying to keep the tenant happy, and off the letting agent's back, and keeping the landlord's costs to a reasonable minimum as it's their profit. 10 minutes clearing the garden each week, 40 times a year, at every property, actually works out to quite a lot!
I used to 'roll' or 'walk' them out of the way, untill a customer told me not to. He had spent ages getting the trampoline level, and didn't want his kids bouncing in the wrong direction (?) if it wasn't level. I suppose there is a liability issue if you moved it and someone hurt themselves. Anyway it seemed like a reasonable excuse and i've used it elsewhere!
You need to take great care when moving a trampoline. On some trampolines the leg post can become disconnected from the trampoline frame ring as you lift the trampoline by the frame ring to move it. As you drag the trampoline the leg post will swing around so it is beneath the trampoline mat and hidden from view of anyone using the trampoline. If it is left in this position when someone bounces on the trampoline the leg post will punch a hole in the trampoline mat, which it is resting against. Even worse, the person may bounce on the area where the leg post is resting against the trampoline mat and badly injure themselves. A brand of trampoline has recently recalled over 23,000 of their trampolines in the USA for the reason that the leg posts could easily become disconnected from the trampoline frame ring.
http://www.atlantictrampolines.co.uk/blog/1932/cheap-trampolines
Make sure that, when you have moved the trampoline, all the leg posts are securely connected to the fame ring to prevent unnecessary damage to the trampoline or injury to anyone using it.
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