Landlord query

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Landlord query
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12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 2:41 pm Post subject:
What does it say in the tenancy agreement?

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 5:04 pm Post subject:

Is it furnished, or unfurnished?
If furnished, did you provide hedge trimmers? I think that if you expect her to trim the hedge, then you should.

However big it is, I can't see why she cannot trim this years growth off the sides. The top may of course be more of an issue.

Generally, I would say that trimming is maintenance, and the tenant's responsibility, but cutting back is remedial, and the landlord's: how badly overgrown was it when she moved in?

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 5:20 pm Post subject:
I haven't looked at my agreement, tbh. It's unfurnished. It's a boundary hedge. It wasn't overgrown when she moved in. Opinions still welcome.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 7:30 pm Post subject:

If they have been cutting / trimming it two or three times per year (as you would expect to do to keep it at the same heigh as it was when they moved in) & the growth has still go away from them then I think you should get it done.

If however they have not been doing it that often & it is clearly in the rental agreement that the maintenance of the garden is down to them then they should do it at their cost.

Would you get a gardener in to cut the grass if they had not done it for 3 years so their household mower could not cope?

Piggyphile

Joined: 02 Apr 2009
Posts: 891
Location: Galicia

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 8:59 pm Post subject:

If it is practical then go and see it for yourself and talk to them directly, there may be some compromise available.
If they move out and it is huge you will have to get it sorted anyway.
If they want something else, and it is ok as a hedge then either say no if you like it or let them pay for a alternative that you (and the neighbour on that side) like.

Beech hedges are not to every ones taste, they are bare in winter, dump leaves everywhere in Autumn and need trimming. Are the renters elderly? Disabled?

They might have a good reason for letting it get neglected, it is not always just about money....

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 9:04 pm Post subject:
It's a hundred miles away. The tenant isn't hard up, nor old or disabled. My feeling is she's done nothing with it for a year or so, now I get to deal with it. I also trust the agent down there, and I'll speak to him, but he might tell me to pay for it, for a quiet life.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 9:12 pm Post subject:

IMO, your tennant is taking the whotsit.

having lived in a multitude of rented places, I'd put hedge trimming and mowing and stuff like that alongside hoovering the floor and cleaning the sink. it's the stuff you do to keep the place reasonable and for your own enjoyment of a decent living space. i've cleared gardens where previous tennants had done nothing with tools borrowed off the neighbours because although it wasn't my 'mess' it was my home and I wanted it done.

and if you don't want to do that, then don't live somewhere with a garden.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 9:24 pm Post subject:
Beech hedges are not bare in Winter. That's one of the reasons they are good for stock, becasue their leaves stay on (albeit brown and dead) and so provide a wind break. They are good for over wintering moths too.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 9:34 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

My feeling is she's done nothing with it for a year or so, now I get to deal with it.

To be fair, you have not looked at it for a few more years than that...
What it was like when she moved in is a relevant issue.
I think the height is relevant as well: I'm not sure it is fair to expect a tenant to have to work from a ladder.

Quote:

I also trust the agent down there, and I'll speak to him, but he might tell me to pay for it, for a quiet life.

I may be inclined to agree this time, but nail it down for the future: either be sure the tenant is responsible, else put the rent up.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 13 9:42 pm Post subject:
No, I've been there within 2-3 years. We haven't owned it much longer. I don't remember it specifically, but it's not a big garden, so it wouldn't have been very unruly. I'll check the agreement and see.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15986

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 13 7:37 am Post subject:
If the sewers are old, it is possible for beech roots to get in. A large copper beech made a takeover bid for the sewer at our first house before we moved into it, but was cleared and the sewer replaced. The house and sewer were put in about 1870 though. If it is a modern plastic and unjointed sewer, then far less risk.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 13 7:38 am Post subject:

Nick wrote:

No, I've been there within 2-3 years. We haven't owned it much longer.

If she's been there a year and a bit, and you've not been there for 2-3 years, then that's longer... and if you're anything like me, then the 2-3 years you remember may actually be 3-4.

And it is often surprising how much a hedge can grow in a couple of years.

Quote:

I don't remember it specifically, but it's not a big garden, so it wouldn't have been very unruly.

If it's not a big garden, then it can't be a big hedge, so it shouldn't be a big deal either way.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 13 7:41 am Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

If the sewers are old, it is possible for beech roots to get in. A large copper beech made a takeover bid for the sewer at our first house...

This is a hedge, not a tree.
Point being that when you trim the shoots, the roots tend to die back to match.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 13 8:43 am Post subject:
House is less than thirty years old.

Kariana

Joined: 21 Aug 2013
Posts: 122

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 13 8:45 am Post subject:

Whatever your agreement says I think you should ask your agent to go round and take a picture of the hedge do you can see it for yourself. Also they should speak to the neighbour about their concerns for the sewers. Perhaps if they've been there a long time they have more reason for their concern, or perhaps the hedge has caused problems before.

As for what state the hedge was in at the beginning of the tenancy, usually the agent would have some pictures that they used to advertise the property so perhaps you could look at those for comparison. If the hedge was particularly high at the start and would require a ladder to cut down then I don't think it's really fair to expect the tenant to either do this or pay for it. On the other hand if it was originally a reasonable height and they've let it get out of hand you could do it this once but make it clear that it's their responsibility to keep it in check in future and if it isn't maintained at the end of the tenancy you will deduct it from their deposit.

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