Am I morally wrong ?

An elderly lady customer of mine had died fairly recently ; living in rented accomodation she always took a personal pride in her garden and property in general .
It has become increasingly apparent that the new tenants will have no interest in the garden whatsoever (4-dogs) .
Am I morally wrong to consider taking some of the plants from the garden in order to preserve them from what will surely be oblivion ?
I can then give them to other customers who would take care of them (free of charge).

Not wanting to be seen 'robbing the dead' , does anyone see justification in what I envisage ?
Woukd I be classified as a ghoul??????.....

 

Morally Paul? Well it would be illegal and inappropriate I think. Who knows, the new tenants may surprise you???
I understand your feelings though . Esp if you yourself provided some of those plants. Did you?

I would ask the new tenants if you could take a few plants. If you simply took them and were "caught in the act" it would not be a good look.

 

I dont think it would be ok to take the plants.
You were only, I presume being paid, to look after the garden, and I presume you were paid to perhaps provide the plants?

I know it might be gut wrenching seeing the garden demise, but you need to be professional about it.

 

Verdun
You are probably right , and yes I did supply most of the plants .
First opinions can be deceptive ; may introduce myself and gauge the situation .

 

Pete
Just seen your response ; as above to Verdun .

 

Well, afraid I would have been ''in there'' between tenants to aquire as many cuttings as possible just to make sure.
Good husbandry requires lots of judicious pruning.

 

Just a question - since it is rented, doesn't that mean the plants belong to the landlord?

 

She paid for and I supplied most of the plants ; not sure how that works really .
I suppose the same rule would apply for interior items too

 

Morally. You are concerned about the goodness or badness of an act etc.

Fact. Under the Theft Act. To remove plants or property in a situation such as this. Such an action would legally constitute THEFT. Definition in brief being. Taking/ Removing what is not yours, is theft/stealing. Mitigating circumstances would inlude. If you could provide satisfactory evidence that the person you had supplied the plants to, whetherornot as a sale or business arrangement, and or. It had previously been agreed that in such an event as death etc, then some arrangement having been made for you to remove various plants.

The matter of ownership. Here consideration would be called in. In the case of say. A present or gift had been given to another person. Once given without conditions being agreed such as, not being liked anymore so sell it, or leaving it in a will. The Giver has no legal claim.
In this instance. The customer has died whilst renting a house/flat etc. It's usual for family etc to be alowed time to remove household effects and person belongings. After that period, anything left becomes the owners/landlords property. Interesting point. You deposit an article in your wheelie bin. Once that bin is place on the highway, all that the bin contains now belongs to the local council. At times council workers, 'bin men' help themselves to the odd thing. If caught and prosecuted, then they are charged with theft. Likewise, people who take shopping trollies home.

Finally. In this case. Paul sadly your customer has passed on. Your work is done. Legal beavers might ask. Hey mate, what are you doing here in the garden.

Truly I can well understand your situation. You could of course ask the owners of they'd like you to continue garden maintenance until new tenants move in. Then why not strike up a bit of business with the new tenants.

Paul. I wish you all the best.

 

Check whether plants put in the ground by a tenant are classed as fixtures and ownership passes to the landlord.

 

Thanks Shiney. I imagine that the backyard garden plants are of little interest to the landlord etc. In case of more uppercrust property then the garden would no doubt feature.

Here our friend Paul is concerned about the future of plants he has perhaps given or sold to the late client. I can well understand this moment in time. For the genuine skilled gardener, plants become his/her family. So Mrs Mopp at 44 Whatsit Rd engages your services. Soon. Although Mrs M is paying YOU, in your eyes the garden has become YOURS. So you give it your best.
Now, dear old Mrs M has passed away. She was only the humble tenant. Perhaps no relatives and no Will of testament. So the landlord is now saddled with a property to let, perhaps roomfulls of furniture etc to get rid of and yes a garden.
Legally all the aforesaid is now owned by the landlord. So he calls in a house clearance firm. Jumpng forward. Mrs. M has been and gone. Paul's attachment to the garden has ended. YES. ENDED.

 

I see the dilemma, but if it is your job you need to be able to walk away.

I could make/hang a door for someone, make new windows, but once fitted and paid for they no longer belong to me.
Same goes for plants and planting in my reasoning, once they are on someone else's land and paid for they are not yours.
It's pretty simple really.
Dont get attached, its a job.

 

Damned right Pete ; decided to forget all about them .
More important work and things to consider ; thanks for the advice though !!