High hedge rented house

hudashley_2

The house I'm currently renting has a surrounding hedge, around 10 foot high and 12 foot long. My tenancy states I'm responsible for the garden, but is such a big job included in this?

The hedge was higher than I'd of felt comfortable with when we moved in, and even worse now.

Previously one person from the LA advised me not to attempt this, via email. A second person has just told me it is my responsibility.

There was no mention of the garden in the inventory, nor pictures of said hedge.

So basically was wondering if I am genuinely liable, and if they can do anything without the inventory?
Thanks, Ashley.

thesaint

What is wrong with the hedge?

tanith

There are tenants across the road from us who take care of the garden , cutting grass and keeping hedges trimmed but if yours is that high and it turns out its your responsibility I would plead that it was just too dangerous to climb up to cut it back.
Do the LA own the house? if so tell them how high it is and you think its dangerous to climb up that high and ask if they could cut it back to a more manageable level then you will keep it in check in the future.

booksurr

what does your tenancy agreement say in respect of "maintaining" the garden?

you cannot be made to undertake activities (eg working at height) which are a risk under health and safety unless the LL provides you with the equipment needed to ensure safe working. No sensible LL would do that as it then makes the LL liable for not only the equipment but also ensuring its users are trained in how to use it

doubtless your LA will try and claim costs for an "untidy" hedge when you eventually check out but there is no inventory so they will have no basis on which to support that claim. If the agreement does refer specifically to garden maintenance then your defence is health and safety

hudashley_2

The height of the hedge, in that the top needs cutting. My tenancy says I am responsible for maintaining the garden. I'll ask them if they can provide me with the required equipment, no doubt they'll ignore me as per. I've been waiting 3 weeks for a repair to a leak in the ceiling, having not heard anything since I came home to a contractor upstairs that had let himself in with no notification, and left the back door unlocked while he was upstairs.

hudashley_2

Ive just received this emaik from them.

Thank you for your e-mail. Having spoken to your landlord again, they advise that this is your responsibility as it does state in your tenancy agreement. Your landlord has stated repeatedly she will not contribute to the works required to maintain the hedge/ hedge height.

Following the conversation with the landlord this afternoon our advice to you would be to either seek asstence in the trimming/maintenance of the hedges or to instruct a contractor at your own expense to maintain the hedges on your behalf.

Mallotum_X

I wouldn't be climbing up, but keep the side trimmed as high as you can reasonably reach.

However use a letter to write to letting agent to tell them the size of the hedge when you moved in was too high to keep the top trimmed, plus put in that you were previously advised by XXX not to attempt it.

Its not unreasonable for garden maintenance to mean keeping the hedge tidy - provided it was in reasonable shape to do so at the start.

jjlandlord

booksurr wrote: »

what does your tenancy agreement say in respect of "maintaining" the garden?

you cannot be made to undertake activities (eg working at height) which are a risk under health and safety unless the LL provides you with the equipment needed to ensure safe working. No sensible LL would do that as it then makes the LL liable for not only the equipment but also ensuring its users are trained in how to use it

I have yet to see a single tenancy agreement stating that the tenant has to do it himself. That'd make no sense.
Even if the landlord provides the equipment it does not make much sense to do something risky without proper training, which the tenant hasn't.

If the tenant is responsible for something, then obviously he can hire a professional to do it. What matters is the result.

hudashley_2

My tenancy states the following.

Garden
to cut the grass (if any) of the premises with an appropriate garden mower as necessary to keep the grass in, or bring about, a neat and tidy condition. Furthermore to keep patio areas (if any), paths, garden areas, lawns, flower beds, shrubs or bushes pr borders (if any) as tidy and weed free as at the commencement of the tenancy.

to allow persons authorised by landlord access to property for purpose of attending to garden

not to lop, cut down, prune or remove or otherwise injure any trees shrubs or plants growing upon the premises

rps2

There is no "standard" or prescribed height of a hedge. Its a personal choice. Higher can mean more privacy so good for anyone living in the property. Unless the agreement says to be maintained below a given height don't think you need to do this. Obviously keep the lower area (garden floor) clean as per above.

carefullycautious

When me and hubby exchanged into a LA flat We spent the first week lowering a hedge which had been left to grow over 7ft in height. I wont tell you how many black bin bags and trips to the tip it took. We had to purchase our own petrol hedge cutter for the initial cut and to maintain the more reasonable height of 3ft. We were not youngsters either.


The gardens were huge front and back and that coupled with other problems we had we were so glad to get out and into our small bungalow with no gardening to do.


We had to maintain the garden as per our tenancy which included any hedging. I don't envy you the job initially but a twice yearly trim should keep it neat.