I was given the following explanation by a member of staff regarding the garden and the deposit: “The garden would be on the inventory on how it was kept when you moved in so no need to worry. Though, it is the tenant’s duty to maintain the garden so it does not overgrow.” I asked for one of two things, clearly and repeatedly: either a habitable garden, or written confirmation that garden maintenance was not my responsibility given that it was effectively a forest. Both were refused. Instead, I was given weaselly sentences like the one above, which were never clarified despite being challenged. I still cannot understand what that statement is meant to mean in practice other than: they will not put the garden into a reasonable condition, but if it is not returned in “perfect” condition, they reserve the right to penalise the tenant at the end of the tenancy. Requests for a straight answer were deflected until formal complaints were raised.