Advice on who cuts the hedge?

There are hedge fences on both sides of the house. We cut our side of the hedge on both the left and the right side of the house. One side of the neighbour also does the same.
The other neighbour is being difficult? How should it work?

Look at the deeds of the house. They normally say who is responsible for which fence/ hedge/ wall. Normally you are only responsible for one side if it’s a wall or fence, but can be responsible for both if you have planted vegetation in front of a wall or fence.

Unfortunatley they don's specfiy. Only the back garden fence is marked. Do you not only trim it at your side of the house and the neighbours does their side? i.e split down the middle?

If it’s not specified in the deeds then you would normally cut your side and they should cut theirs.But in that case you can’t normally force them to trim their side unless it is causing structural damage to your property or is exceeding the height legally enforceable in your area. If they want to let nature run riot on their side you can’t do an awful lot about it.

Thanks. They want me to cut the whole hedge!! That is ridculous as most people split the hedge down the middle and cut their half. Can they even do that?

The thing is that you can’t force them to cut their half if it’s not interfering with telephone or electricity cables or if it’s not higher than that stipulated by local council bye laws or clauses in the deeds. So the only choice you have is either to live with a messy hedge or cut it for them.

It is not me that is asking them to cut the hedge. They want me to cut the whole hedge. I don't think that is fair.

If it’s not written in the deeds that you are responsible for the entire hedge then they can’t force you. End of story. What they want doesn’t come into it.

How would I be responisble for both side of the hedges? It sounds unfair.

Unless it’s written into the deeds then you are not, but for example with my road each property owner is responsible for the wall or hedge on the left hand side of their property in its entirety I.e both sides of the hedge.

When you say left side, is it looking at house from the perspective of when you enter the front door to go inside ?

Yes.

thanks. is that the norm or can vary from street to street?

How would I be responisble for both side of the hedges? It sounds unfair.

You aren't responsible for both sides, you are only responsible for your side. If you cut the top level, assuming the centre of the hedge is the boundary (if it wasn't it would be on one or other party's property and in the deeds), then strictly speaking you should return their cuttings, it tip them over their side. You have no obligation to go around and cut their side, unless you choose to be neighbourly.

Thanks. So what is currently happenign is cutting both the hedges on the right of house and left of the house on our side is correct way?