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 the agreement say about maintaining the garden?
If you haven't specifically agreed to maintain the hedges I would contact the landlord and say that this falls outside your remit as tenants because it requires specialized safety equipment.
This is assuming the hedges require ladders to trim.

A high hedge is a hedge which is more than 2 m high. How high are yours?

I have to mow the lawn but my landlord sorts a gardener to cut the hedges. I would imagine that’s quite common as they’re not one of these landlords that does anything and everything. If she wants the shrubs cut back occasionally (big ones), the gardener has to do those too.

We had a similar situation when we rented.
We rented a house that needed loads of work and it smelled because no one had lived there for a year or so. It was our only option, because the market was brutal and it was all we could find to rent at the time.
We decorated it at our expense, sorted outside lights etc and looked after the garden but didn’t cut back the hedges. I cleaned and staged the house and showed prospective tenants round during our last month and so we helped find the next tenants. Left the house in a much better condition than we found it and thankfully the letting agents agreed.
Our landlady was absolutely awful to us when we handed the keys back, saying that the garden was disgusting! After everything we’d done. I was gutted. She was upset we hadn’t done any “cutting back” and had just mowed the lawn. It looked fine to us but we’re no experts. We’re definitely not gardeners and wouldn’t know if we were causing more harm than good and also, the neighbours had made it clear that the boundaries were theirs.
Tell your landlord, he should’ve let the house out to Charlie Dimmock!
Most rentals have low maintenance gardens for this very reason.
Unless it’s in your tenancy agreement, then leave it for the landlord to sort.

Can you not just do it with a pair of secateurs like normal garden maintenance? Or are they exceptionally tall/hard to reach?

whereas using an electric hedge trimmer up a ladder requires expensive equipment and skill/knowledge so you don't damage the hedge or yourself!
Fuck me I have been trimming ours for years - no-one told me I needed "skill/knowledge"

This. If you leave it any later they'll have nesting birds in them.

Yeah me too up a ladder with a trimmer! It's not hard and hedges are lovely so look after them OP.

I was under the same impression of you i.e. it’s the tenants job to do normal garden maintenance but trees and tall hedges are the LL’s responsibility.

However, I guess he or she has you over a barrel given the current rental crisis.

Don't rent a house with a garden if you have no idea how to look after one or inclination to learn @MummyJ12

If you have to get permission to do it, that's means it's your responsibility.

Like if you got permission to hang pictures on the wall with nails - you can't then tell him he needs to get someone to hang your pictures.

This always amazes me, One of the houses near me has a huge garden and is rented out. Every time people move in and it becomes a jungle and we inevitably report to the council every time as the hedges over take the pavement. If you don't want a house with a garden to maintain, don't bloody well rent one.

It's not hard to keep it in check, you choose a house with a garden get some tools. Do you expect the landlord to buy your vacuum cleaners and vac bags too etc to keep on top of keeping your house tidy too.

This is what the tenancy agreement says about the garden on our responsibilities. It doesn't mention the landlord's.

13.1. To keep the garden in the same condition and style as at the commencement of the Tenancy.
13.2. To keep the borders, paths, and patios, if any, weeded.
13.3. To cut the grass regularly during the growing season.
13.4. To allow any person, who has been given authority by the Landlord or the Agent if applicable, access to
the Property for the purpose of attending to the garden.
13.5. Not to lop, prune, remove or destroy any existing plants, trees or shrubs, unless it is required to keep the
garden in good order without the consent of the Landlord or the Agent which will not be unreasonably
withheld.

Are you intending to leave any time soo? How long is left on your tenancy agreement? I would choose your battles carefully depending on how long you want to stay there.

Savills agrees with your husband:

www.savills.co.uk/blog/article/267209/residential-property/how-landlords-can-ensure-everything-in-their-garden-is-rosy.aspx

I don’t think this should be your responsibility at all, some LL really want to have their cake and eat it.

It sounds like the landlord is stipulating how often you are trimming the hedges. Seeing that this can be expensive I tend to agree with you that it should be at least a shared cost.

I missed a bit, in the same way as if a boundary fence or wall fell down or needed work I’d expect the landlord to repair it.

It seems it’s putting responsibility to you - to keep in same condition. We’re the hedges trimmed neatly when you moved in? Not to prune etc… unless to keep in good order in your responsibility too.

So if the hedges were trimmed when you moved in you need to trim then - as per point 1. I don't see how that's vague.

Also, it doesn’t matter what savills or anybody else say is typical, it matters what agreement you have signed.

13.1 To keep the garden in the same condition and style as at the commencement of the Tenancy.

= mown lawns, trimmed hedges etc.

13.5 is clumsily worded but implies that lopping and pruning of trees and shrubs are required to keep the garden in good order (as in 13.1) and
is seen as maintenance expected of you. That's why you don't need to seek permission before the pruning and lopping.

I would of thought hedge is general maintenance
how high are they ? Are we talking same as a high fence of 8 foot

tbh up to u if you don’t want to cut them fine problem is there’s plenty of tenants who will cut them so be prepared to move at end of your tenancy

I am not a renter and a landlord. Of course you maintain the garden. If you don't want a garden rent one without it

I think there is a difference between trimming a hedge and cutting a high one.

For example, we have (next door's) rhododendron bushes which gradually grow into our driveway so DH cuts them back. I'd expect a tenant to do that as it's day to day maintenance.

But we have a high hedge between our garden and next door on the other side which isn't a straight-forward trimming job, you'd need to be quite strong and have the right tools. I'd say that would be for a landlord if the house were rented.

As for renting without a garden, I doubt it's that easy.

Did you not read my post properly? @Greatly
We’d have loved to have rented a house with just a lawn, and patio. Something easy to maintain. There was nothing on the market!

I don’t have the luxury of time to garden any more than mowing a lawn as I’m busy looking after my autistic son and running him around to appointments 🙄. Don’t be so rude. It’s not necessary.