Trimming large hedges as a tenant

Antarian

Is someone able to provide any advice to me? There are two tall and wide (2.5m tall x 1.5m wide) hedges on the property I am renting. Rent is higher than usual for the area, I am not a tall person, and I am no expert in any gardening.
Will there be a legal problem if I cut these hedges to 1.2-1.5m height. As that is as high as I can reach considering width of the bushes and standing on ground with small cutting/pruning scissor provided by landlord.
I already received anonymous complaint to letterbox as these hedges are partialy obstructing city owned pavement.

This is what is stated in my agreement:
Keep the garden and grounds properly cultivated according to the season and free from weeds, in a

neat and tidy condition with the lawns regularly mown and edged, and shrubs and trees pruned but not

alter the character or layout of the garden or grounds.

deannagone

What discussions have you had with the LL?

youth_leader

I had to get a gardener in to do the hedges at my rental property, I couldn't do them myself.

Section62

Antarian said:

Is someone able to provide any advice to me? There are two tall and wide (2.5m tall x 1.5m wide) hedges on the property I am renting. Rent is higher than usual for the area, I am not a tall person, and I am no expert in any gardening.
Will there be a legal problem if I cut these hedges to 1.2-1.5m height. As that is as high as I can reach considering width of the bushes and standing on ground with small cutting/pruning scissor provided by landlord.
I already received anonymous complaint to letterbox as these hedges are partialy obstructing city owned pavement.

This is what is stated in my agreement:
Keep the garden and grounds properly cultivated according to the season and free from weeds, in a

neat and tidy condition with the lawns regularly mown and edged, and shrubs and trees pruned but not

alter the character or layout of the garden or grounds.

Ask your landlord if they are happy for you to get the hedge height reduced to a level you can better manage. If they say yes (in writing) then there can be no legal problem.

But if people are complaining about the hedge partially obstructing the footway (pavement) then the problem is with the width of the hedge, not the height.

Reducing the width of a hedge can be more problematic, as if you cut back beyond the growing point it can take years for the hedge to regain a hedge-like appearance, or in the case of leylandii-type hedges it will never grow back and you will be left looking at dead-branches.

If it is too high for you to deal with, and you aren't sure what you are doing, it might be better to get a professional gardener in to help you.

kazwookie

Ask LL first, then get someone in to do it, it will be quicker and easier in the long run.