Garden Scheme

It is the tenants responsibility to look after their garden (or balcony if they have one). The tenant must keep their garden clean and tidy and free from rubbish.  This includes things like mechanical parts, furniture etc.

If you have a tree in your garden, you must not destroy or remove it, or remove any branches from it without written permission. We will normally ask a Tree Officer from Leisure Services to inspect it, and advise us of any work that needs doing to it.  We usually pay for work recommended by the Tree Officer.

If you are elderly or registered disabled and find it difficult to look after your garden yourself, you may be eligible to join our Garden Management Scheme.  To be eligible you must have no family able to help you, and be in receipt of Housing Benefit.  This scheme offers an initial clearance (if necessary) of a garden together with grass and hedge cutting.  After that grass and hedges will be cut twice a year.

Garden maintenance scheme for elderly or disabled tenants

The Council's Conditions of Tenancy place on tenants the responsibility for keeping the garden areas cultivated and tidy.

A special scheme exists to assist those who are unable to carry out such work themselves and have no one else living with them who could do such work.

How the scheme works

This scheme will involve an initial clearance (if necessary) of a garden together with grass and hedge cutting. Thereafter grass and hedges will be cut twice per year and the removal of clippings.

Only work necessary to stop the garden(s) becoming a nuisance and unmanageable will be undertaken.

Tenants should ensure that:

The garden is free from rubbish, the garden is free from dog mess.  It may be necessary for an inspection to be made prior to the initial clearance particularly if the garden has not been altered for some time.  The Housing Officer will make the final decision whether the application can proceed.  If the request is satisfactory the tenants details will be recorded on the approved list for action.

Who can apply?

Tenants who are living in PHP accommodation and who are also:

• Of pensionable age and/or
• Registered disabled
• Have no member of the household who are able to assist
• Are in receipt of state housing benefit

How to apply

Tenants wishing to be considered for this scheme should make an application by either:

• Printing and completing the attached form and returning it through the post
• Saving an electronic copy and submitting it via email
• Or requesting a paper version to complete and return through the post

All applications should be returned to our Helpdesk, see the contact details on the right of this page.