To think we shouldn't have to trim the hedges

[tulippa]

We've been renting a property that has front and back gardens bordered by high hedges with some further tall standalone hedges/shrubs on the lawn.

We have paid twice to get the hedges trimmed during our 18 months in the property. The landlord has not supplied any equipment to cut hedges or ladders which would be needed as they're quite tall and we had to buy our own lawnmower when we moved in. Recently, DH has found advice online which suggests that cutting hedges is not a tenant's responsibility in the same way that mowing the lawn is. The landlord messaged us at the weekend asking us to cut the hedges (they're not actually looking too bad at the moment) saying now would be a good time as they don't have any leaves on.

DH explained the advice he had found, that we did not want to cause any confrontation but it's not our responsibility to do this. It's surely a bit like getting the gutters cleaned or the boiler serviced. Regular maintenance rather than general frequent upkeep. The landlord has replied saying that it is our responsibility and if we don't want to do it ourselves, we should pay someone. So we are at a stalemate. The landlord has form for digging his heels in about certain things.

Does anyone know what we should do? Is there any organisation who can mediate with this sort of thing? Or do we have to fork out for the hedges?

What does your tenancy agreement say?

If you don’t want to maintain a garden you should have rented a flat.

What 'advice online' has your DH found, that says the trimming/cutting of the hedges on your rented property is not your responsibility? Unless it says specifically in your tenancy agreement that the hedges are NOT your responsibility, then they more than likely are... This would be the case in the vast majority of private let AND social housing properties.

The tenancy agreement is vague. It says we need to get permission from the landlord if we wanted to lop or trim any hedges but it doesn't specify whose job it is to do it.

It's on quite a few websites including gov.uk that general gardening upkeep like lawn mowing and weeding is our responsibility but bigger jobs like tree felling and maintaining high hedges is the landlord's.

It's your responsibilty. As I said, where 'online' did your husband see where it said that the tenant is not responsible for the maintenance/trimming of the hedge? Why do you think you're not responsible?

Think we cross posted. 🙂

When we rented our house out we paid for the high hedge trim twice a year.
It was a specialist and expensive maintenance job.
Everything else in the garden ( apart from yearly tree survey) was the tenant's responsibility.
Do you have a letting agent?

@HeavenIsAHalfpipe

I'm not sure why you seem personally offended by this but the first thing that comes up on Google says it's the landlords responsibility.

@icefishing We went through a letting agent for the contract and deposit paperwork and then they passed us over to deal direct with the landlord. Really wanted to deal with an agent for everything this time but we were too far through the process to turn the property down and it had been hard to find somewhere suitable.

If you rented a flat you’d STILL pay for the hedge cutting via a service charge.

@FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee Thanks - I was starting to wonder if that poster is my landlord.

If it's expensive job, I don't think tenants are obliged to pay. How much did it cost? We trim hedges, but they are short ones. Once we saw guy trimming neighbour's hedges, so my husband asked if he can come over and do ours, so we paid 20 quid. We don't do expensive job. Painting, maintaining the garden and small repairs is maximum. Other stuff belongs to landlord. If this was expensive and specialist, I don't think he can force you to do it.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I think the problem is, even if we can prove to the landlord it's not our responsibility, he'll still insist we have to do it. Is there any ombudsman/mediation service who could support us with this or has anyone had this sort of issue before? Thanks.

I too was wondering if that poster was the landlord. I would have thought that it is the landlord's responsibility to do the maintenance of hedges unless it specifies otherwise in the tenancy agreement. But that's just my feeling; it's not authoritative on the law and there may be a grey area. I would ask the local authority housing department which is responsible for private landlord and tenant law for advice or opinion on this.

I wonder what the definition of a high hedge is?

Depends on the agreement, what does it say exactly? Nobody can give you advice without the exact wording. In my experience (as a surveyor managing country estates) trees are landlord, hedges aren’t but it depends what is written in your agreement.

How tall are the hedges?

I must admit that I prune ours. I have a step ladder and some shears. It's not that difficult. I wouldn't want to start an argument with the landlord over something so minor. It can be hard to find a decent rental property these days.

I’m a LL. I wouldn’t expect tall hedge trimming if it requires specialist equipment.

In my view, general garden maintenance involves cutting grass, keeping flower beds tidy (weeding and cutting back) and you can’t really expect more. If you want trees pruning etc then the LL needs to do it or pay to have it done.

Do you pay rent via an agency? If so, speak with them about this.

How tall is tall? And how tall should they be? I maintained my housing association house hedges but they were short and they asked me not to let them get overgrown

He’s right about the time of year though. I’d just give it one really good cut now. Save you doing it later.

It's a grey area, there is no specific law. Unless there is a clause in the contract, landlords are usually responsible for cutting trees and high hedges because they are jobs that require specialist skill and are dangerous, they aren't "day to day" maintenance, jobs that anyone can do, like mowing the lawn. Tenants would be expected to prune low hedges/shrubs that you could trim with secateurs standing on the ground, whereas using an electric hedge trimmer up a ladder requires expensive equipment and skill/knowledge so you don't damage the hedge or yourself!

You should be able to find lots of advice about it online to forward to the landlord eg the NRLA (National Residental Landlord's Association) advice is:

Landlords are usually responsible for the maintenance of trees and climbing plants, making sure they are safe. In most instances, they are also responsible for maintaining large shrubs and hedges and removing the cuttings, but this can be a very grey area. To avoid doubt, if a landlord needs the tenant to do any specific, basic garden maintenance tasks they should be listed in the tenancy agreement and discussed with the tenant. Landlord and tenant expectations can be very different so, as always, it’s best to communicate clearly with the tenant.

www.nrla.org.uk/news/landlords-essential-guide-to-garden-maintenance

If it specifically says If You Want To Trim contact the ll.
So you just don't want them trimmed then leave them be... If they become a nuisance to your ndn pass on the ll phone number.. Our wall became an issue for ndn. I gave him ll number.. Not my business...

This sounds to me like it’s therefore your responsibility! You’d hardly need to get the landlords permission for the landlord to do it, would you?

Tree trimming which require specialist skills are the landlord's responsibility...
I work for a ll..