our fence - their weedy hedge..

TOOTHACHE

Our next door neighbours (we are semi) are long-term tennants, believe it was 5 years or so.
Anyway, the fence, or what is left of it, is ours.
However they have this horrid hedge with knotty weeds growing through it right up against our fence and growing through it.
We only moved in August 1st but are in the process of destroying the garden to make it safe for our two young kids - it was what you would call a mature garden with many levels and allsorts of shrubbery.
I have only seen the neighbours twice, seem ok but I know she loves this hedge thing - she is out almost every night cutting it with scissors - but not the back :mad:
Obviously if we take the fence down the hedge will be destroyed too. Honestly the hedge is growing through our fence.
How do we go about this without causing any offence upset?
Do we ask / tell them? Do they have to remove their hedge? Do we have to tell the landlord of their property?
Sorry for the questions - only ever lived in a flat.

G_M

Taking action without telling them is a surefire way of getting their backs up.

Wheehr it is the landlord or tenant's responsibility depends on what's in their tenancy agreement, what their tacit understanding is etc, but it sounds like the tenants are long term and also 'do' the garden.

So speak to them! Tell them your plans for the fence, point out it will affect their hedge and ask what their feelings are. You can always adjust your plans to compromise. Or contact the landlord later. But start with the tenants.

mustrum_ridcully

I second what G_M said. It might well be that the hedge belongs to the LL and you could end-up having to discuss it with them.

Have a read of http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/trees.html what they say about trees pretty much applies to hedges.