When I purchased my IP nearly 12 months ago, I planted 13 fruit trees in the back yard because one day I plan to live there. Hence a couple years would pass and the trees would grow.
To my disappointment, when I attended the property recently to attend to some maintenance, I found at 10 of the 13 trees have had the bark destroyed with a whipper snipper around the base of the tree. So basically all 10 trees have been killed.
My agent has advised me that the tenants are not gardeners and are not liable for the damage. If taken to the tribunal, they would rule that the tenant is only required to mow the lawn and do basic weeding. She also said the trees should have had bark spread around them to stop the lawn growing so close.
The thing is the bark was placed there, but the grass was let to grow around.
Has anyone got experience in a similar situation? Am I just supposed to wear the cost? do i replant or just leave it?
Do I have to fence off all the vegetation on the property?
To my disappointment, when I attended the property recently to attend to some maintenance, I found at 10 of the 13 trees have had the bark destroyed with a whipper snipper around the base of the tree. So basically all 10 trees have been killed.
My agent has advised me that the tenants are not gardeners and are not liable for the damage. If taken to the tribunal, they would rule that the tenant is only required to mow the lawn and do basic weeding. She also said the trees should have had bark spread around them to stop the lawn growing so close.
The thing is the bark was placed there, but the grass was let to grow around.
Has anyone got experience in a similar situation? Am I just supposed to wear the cost? do i replant or just leave it?
Do I have to fence off all the vegetation on the property?