Untidy and poorly maintained gardens have a negative impact on estates and are a breach of tenancy, Housing Officers deal with gardens which are not maintained to an acceptable standard.

The following conditions of tenancy apply in relation to tenants' responsibilities in relation to maintaining gardens.

8. Living at Your Property

Your Responsibilities

g) You must get rid of rubbish properly and must not store it in a place where it could cause fire, attract vermin or infestation or cause other damage to people or homes. You must not dump your rubbish in shared areas or in the neighbourhood.

h) You must keep your garden tidy. This includes the lawn, hedges, trees, shrubs, balconies or any shared area that is let as part of the tenancy. You must not let any hedge/shrub grow more than two metres high or overhang pavements, cause an obstruction or impinge on your neighbours garden. You must not remove trees or hedges without our prior written consent.

Following receipt of a complaint/report that a garden is untidy or poorly maintained a Housing Officer will visit within 10 days of receipt of the report. Instructions will be given to the tenant(s) and a re-inspection will take place 15 days after the initial visit and at this time the officer will decide on the appropriate course of action if the matter has not been rectified.