Housing- Looking after your home
Looking after your home and garden
You are responsible for keeping your home in a clean and tidy condition. You are also responsible for looking after your garden and keeping it tidy. If you do not, Housing Services may arrange to clear it and charge you for the work. Make sure you look after your hedges, trees and shrubs, especially if they are next to your neighbour's property.
If you live in a flat or maisonette, you will be responsible for keeping the communal areas, stairs such as passageways, clean and swept. Please talk to your neighbours and make arrangements to look after the different parts. If you notice vandalism, rubbish tipping or graffiti, please let us know by contacting your Housing Officer (01322 343065) and we will deal with it.
Grounds maintenance
Grass is cut every two weeks (March to October). It should be litter picked before it is cut and cuttings should be swept off footways.
The bases of trees, posts etc. should be trimmed. Cut grass should be neat and no higher than 5cm. Shrub beds are also visited every two weeks, again during the period March to November.
Dead flower heads, weeds and litter should be removed. Minor pruning will be carried out during the fortnightly visit (March to October) if it is overgrowing a path or is an obstruction, otherwise pruning is carried out if needed in the winter - major pruning is carried out between and inclusive of November to January and that year's growth only is cut from the top of the shrubs.
Trees are inspected on request. If you have any queries, you should in the first instance contact the Environmental Services Team on 01322 343290.
Rubbish and waste disposal
All household refuse should be disposed of in the bins provided, either individually or in bin stores where appropriate.
Do not obstruct the bin stores or put bulky objects into them. Wrap glass first. Do not let the bin overflow as this encourages rats and mice.
