Garden maintenance in a rented house

talulahbeige_2

We live in a house with a large garden that is surrounded by hedges that are well over 10ft tall.
Our tennancy agreement says
"To keep the garden in the same condition and state of cultivation as it was in at the start of tenancy as stated in the inventory and to ensure the lawns and designated grass areas are kept properly mown and tidy and no to cut down or remove or alter the general shape of any trees, plants or shrubs"
The tennancy then goes on to state that the LL must provide tools so that we can comply with the sub clause.
He hasn't provided us with anything to do the job.
The garden isnt mentioned at all in the inventory.

The hedges are very overgrown and desperatley need trimming, the LL seems to think we should do it, i think he should be responsible for it as it is general maintenance and a huge job. The garden is on a slope and is mainly just mud so to climb a ladder with a hedge cutter would be suicidal.

Thoughts and advice on how we tacle this welcome.
If we have to do it then does he have to make sure we have all the correct equipment and not just the hedge trimmer?

Thanks

clutton_2

i think a chat with the LL is what you need... explain about the safety issues and that you dont feel comfortable doing such high hedges on a slope.. and that you dont have any tools... see what response you get...

talulahbeige_2

We tried that today and he suggested that we needed to put a big board down to level the area.

The LL will attempt anything to avoid spending money so he is firstly trying to get the neighbours to take responsibility, he then suggested we do it. He left without us coming to a resolution as he wasn't sure who was actually responsible (the neightbours or us/LL)
This is why I've posted as I want an idea of where we stand and if it is something we shoudl be doing or he should be doing

BitterAndTwisted

It sounds like a suicidally dangerous job to undertake if you're not experienced and you don't have the right tools and equipment. I wonder how much it would cost to instruct a specialist and maybe consider splitting the cost 50/50 with the landlord?

talulahbeige_2

Thanks for the suggestion. it would be a few hundred pounds which we don;t have at the moment. Our neighbours paid nearly £1k although there garden is alot bigger.

The landlord is contracted to supply us with the correct tools but has failed to do so. If he fails to do so then why should it cost us?

clutton_2

""the LL must provide tools so that we can comply with the sub clause. He hasn't provided us with anything to do the job. ""

- well then you cant do the job can you ???

are you sure there is no photograph of the garden in the inventory ?

i doubt very much if a court would insist on your doing this job as it sounds like a job for an expert....

pinkshoes

I'd insist the LL provides you with the correct tools to do the job, as stated in the contract.

Obviously the correct tools being a hedge cutter, ladder, boarding to make it safe etc... or perhaps even a scaffolding unit???

You shouldn't have to pay for anything if you're willing to do the work yourself once the correct equipment is supplied.

G_M

There's fault on both sides here.

You've rented a house with a nice big garden. You get the benefit of living with a big garden, and you chose to live there knowing there was a garden. You also signed a contract requiring you to maintain it.

On the other hand the LL is obligated by the contract to provide tools.

Clearly he should provide tools and you should maintain the garden.

If you don't want or feel able to do the work (having been given access to the tools) you have the option (as does any property resident whether owner occupier or tenant) to employ someone to do the job.

talulahbeige_2

G_M wrote: »

There's fault on both sides here.

You've rented a house with a nice big garden. You get the benefit of living with a big garden, and you chose to live there knowing there was a garden. You also signed a contract requiring you to maintain it.

On the other hand the LL is obligated by the contract to provide tools.

Clearly he should provide tools and you should maintain the garden.

If you don't want or feel able to do the work (having been given access to the tools) you have the option (as does any property resident whether owner occupier or tenant) to employ someone to do the job.

Who's talking fault? I asked for advice and opinions not blame!
If it is our responsibility we are happy to do the work as long as we have the correct tools and not just a basic hedge trimmer that he found at a car boot sale. His main aim in life is to spend as little as possible whilst being useless

talulahbeige_2

clutton wrote: »

""the LL must provide tools so that we can comply with the sub clause. He hasn't provided us with anything to do the job. ""

- well then you cant do the job can you ???

are you sure there is no photograph of the garden in the inventory ?

i doubt very much if a court would insist on your doing this job as it sounds like a job for an expert....

No photos etc that we have been shown and as we havent been shown any then they can;t be included in the inventory. The inventory doesnt mention the garden at all.

Zazen999

I once had a landlord that asked this; the hedges were about 8ft tall and they wanted us to trim the tops.

I asked:
Will they be hiring the equipment to do the job or do they want me to hire it and charge it to them?
Will they be providing training for said equipment? [I quoted the Working at Heights Regs which states that training will be required for the use of any ladders used in the job]
Will we be insured for the job, so in the case of an accident, would the insurance cover rental payments and any loss of income?

Within a week, they had got someone in to do the job.