Done to death I know but everything I read seems contradictory. I would appreciate some good clear guidelines.
Neighbour to left of us has boundary hedge planted on his side of boundary (front garden of london townhouse). Hedge is made up of 2 leylandii trees, which grow rapidly upwards and outwards.
When we first moved here he said that we could cut our side if we wanted, so we did it a few times but find we just don't have the time now. It's a big job trimming it (it's 2.5 m high), and then fills the car for trip to tip, and car needs full clean after.
Hedge is now looking very ropy (on both sides), mostly brown foliage, dropping all over front garden.
Who is responsible for maintaining our side of the hedge? If it's us, can we insist it comes down by 1.2m to make it more manageable? What if we trim it back and it's all just dead sticks, are we 'stuck' with it?
Also with hedge so high I find it tricky to drive out of front garden, as I can't see if someone is walking on the pavement, and it is taking light from our sitting room (hedge is just 60cm from edge of our bay window). Are these good reasons to ask for it to come down a meter or so?
FWIW we have planted small hedge on other side of front garden, on our side of boundary. We maintain both sides of that hedge, trimming and removing cuttings to ensure overall good health and appearance of hedge. Easy job, currently 90cm high, hoping to make it to about 120 cm, then keep it that height. As I planted hedge it would seem rude to tell neighbours to sort it out on their side.