To think landlord is a twat?

[TwattyLandlord]

Moved into a new rented property last summer. After we moved in, letting agent emailed a list of ‘information’ from the landlord.

Among other things it stated the tall hedge which surrounds the back garden must be trimmed twice a year and went to say that Bob at No32 has always done it and will do it for us for a reasonable charge. We have our own hedge trimmer and DH trimmed it a bit a in September.

Phone call from letting agent today stating that landlord has said they have received images of the hedge via one of the neighbours and it needs to be attended to immediately as it’s overgrown and some parts are brown so must be diseased.

AIBU to be pissed off one of the neighbours (must be Bob!) has been spying on the hedge and has run to the landlord (who lives on the other side of the world) about it? The brown bits are are apparently on the outside of the hedge and we hadn’t noticed them tbh as can’t see them from inside the garden, we didn’t do anything to it. It’s winter ffs!

AIBU we say we will be not be hedge trimming in January or paying Bob to do it?

In fact I don’t intend to do anything to it at all now. We had only planned to be here for a year anyway.

Just to add we had issues since we moved in with a leak that was leaking before we moved in not being fixed properly and dripping through the kitchen ceiling. Needed replastering and painting which was very inconvenient. The washing machine was full of mould. The fridge didn’t work properly, shower is now leaking. Also the water pressure is extremely low, (we weren’t informed of this before we moved in), so landlord has a pressure booster which he doesn’t want us to use as it’ll wear out. I thought this was extremely cheeky. We do use it as it’d take 5 minutes to fill the kettle if we didn’t.

We have been decent tenants. House is pristine, have had to put up with inspections every two months, paid 6 months up front and now paying on time every month.

Why would a landlord want to piss off decent tenants about a hedge!

our previous landlord dident tell us before we moved in that the adjoining semi was owned by his boss! the garden was very high maintenance which we tried to kept on top of, but we started getting whatsapps of photos of how "overgrown" our garden was from said landlord who had his boss complain about it! when we got a section 21 eviction we ended up losing our entire deposit because they claimed it cos £1400 to do "garden clearance" after we moved out. so yes your landlord is a twat and I personally think if they are so obsessed with hedges etc they should make it their own job to arrange it to be trimmed. wankers

He sounds impressively controlling. Why should you have to give Bob (blatantly a mate) to do something you can do yourself?

YANBU. Unless it was in your contract, which it sounds like it wasn't. Perhaps keep the garden in good order is mentioned? It's still subjective.

Perhaps other posters will come along and give you the proper wording about right to peaceful enjoyment of your home which you can send back!

After we moved in, letting agent emailed a list of ‘information’ from the landlord.
If that wasn't made explicit knowledge before the tenancy was signed, or signed as a separate contract, then I don't think it's legally valid. CAB would know for certain.

Among other things it stated the tall hedge which surrounds the back garden must be trimmed twice a year and went to say that Bob at No32 has always done it and will do it for us for a reasonable charge. We have our own hedge trimmer and DH trimmed it a bit a in September.
If you moved in summer then you still have 6 months to complete the twice yearly trims. Technically you could trim it twice in January and fulfil their terms. Also if they want Bob then they need to pay Bob, not you.

Your best bet is to contact Citizens Advice. See if they have an email link.

Thanks for the replies.

Just had an email from letting agent passed on from landlord saying we need to get a professional to do the hedge as it is critical to the security and integrity of the property.

He wants us to pay the neighbour to do it as he knows the hedge!

The contract only says to prune trees and shrubs. No mention of having it done by a professional!

The hedge is leylandi.

What do you think my response should be?!

If he wants it done by a professional, he should pay for it no?

There is nothing in the contract that says the hedge must be trimmed twice a year either. That’s just what LL said in his list after we moved in!

I’m a landlord. I’d pay for something like this myself.

was it the landlords home and they’re overseas working or something?

If it's not in the contract, it's irrelevant. Just ignore him and report any threats to the letting agent. When are you expecting to move out, it sounds like you're moving out in the summer so unless the contract allows the landlord to serve you notice early you should just ignore him. He could take you to court for breaching tenancy agreement BUT a list of demands he provided AFTER you signed would be dismissed.

Just ignore it unless you need a reference from him for your next property in which case better keep him onside.

If the LL wants it done by a professional, the LL pays.

The obvious answer is the LL takes an extra amount per month and then pays it out from that.

Or specifies the requirement in the contract.

I would reply to say 'I can't find any record of this in our contract, so I believe the cost of professional gardeners remains a LL responsibility.'

Phone Shelter for advice if they push back.

The hedge is leylandi.
Those hedges are a nightmare. You can't cut back too much otherwise it permanently shows the deadwood underneath, and that's probably what they mean about the brown showing. They only grow from the tips.

I would reply to say 'I can't find any record of this in our contract
Good response from pp.

Yes landlord’s home, moved abroad. Said he’d never rented it out before.

Rented as couldn’t sell from the looks of it. Had quite a few estate estate agent circulars after we moved in (addressed to occupier), saying that property was for sale up until the month before we moved in, did owner want to market it with them. LL lied that he had no intention of selling and wanted tenants long term for 4-5 years!

Keep expecting him to put it for sale now so can’t relax anyway!

Leylandii are trees. They are utter nightmare hedges and should be the landlord's responsibility to maintain.

Our landlord insisted that Leylandii are shrubs, they bloody well aren't!

The letting agent need to tell the LL to butt out.

LLs needs to be regulated ASAP. When I rented I had one who told me I couldn’t put any garden furniture on the grass. Which was ludicrous as there was only a tiny postage stamp sized paved area and I LOVE garden furniture. They couldn’t understand that they weren’t allowed to dictate these things to me! They also said I couldn’t dry clothes on the radiators - I just resented being treat like that in my own bloody home, it was like o was still a child.

Dear estate agent,
As per the additional demands supplied, we have trimmed the shrubs and trees.
If the LL wants to have the hedge cut by a professional at his expense then that's fine.

You should have disputed this amount through your deposit scheme!

What I would do is list the issues above that they've failed to rectify in a timely manner and say you'll attend to the hedge which makes no difference to the state of the property when the issues are rectified.

Then, when you know you're leaving, take photos of all the issues and report the slumlord to the environmental health team. Because no doubt they will withhold your deposit for some ridiculous reason.

Make sure all communication is in written form via text or email, no phone calls. Create a paper trail.

I would also make sure to speak to a nicer neighbour about the scumbag causing grief for you.

Reply telling the agent to leave you alone.

The thing is even if this is against your tenancy agreement all they can do is serve you a section 21, when your fixed term ends, and you can string the arse out of that for a good year or so. Bollocks to them

If he wants the hedge "professionally" maintained (is Bob even a professional?) then he can pay for it. It's not in the contract so it's his problem to sort out.

I'd be reminding the estate agent that none of this is in your contract and it is the landlords responsibility. Brush up on your tenant rights too just for gold measure. It seems that the agents are trying it on with you as well as the landlord to be honest. They are relying on you not knowing what to do and caving in, because he's clearly a difficult client.

https://www.cia-landlords.co.uk/advice/are-landlords-responsible-for-garden-maintenance/

Our landlord sorts our trees and borders hedges out and pays for them to be done as it’s their responsibility.

He has screwed himself over by saying it is vital for security as if it is vital then it’s his responsibility.

If your contract states that you’re responsible for pruning trees, I’d seek to have your contract changed. Leylandii are trees. Tree trimming requires specialist skills, and can’t be considered maintenance, so should be the responsibility of the landlord who should pay for and arrange it.

https://www.tenancydepositscheme.com/asktds-maintaining-gardens-in-rented-properties-what-are-my-responsibilities-as-a-tenant/

Have a read of this OP