Estates

We believe that the quality of the area where you live is just as important as the home you live in. This is why we are committed to making our schemes and estates places where you are proud and happy to live.

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Our responsibilities

Gardening

We employ grounds maintenance contractors to carry out gardening work in shared areas, such as:

• Grass cutting and edging grassed areas
• Maintaining shrubs, hedges and trees
• Weed control
• Maintaining hedges and trees

Tree surgery

Every year we carry out a safety survey of trees in shared areas. We then produce a schedule of tree surgery to ensure we prioritise any urgent work. We never remove trees unless we have to, and we always check for Tree Preservation Orders before removing them.

We also regularly trim and prune trees in shared areas.

Cleaning

We employ cleaners to do some basic cleaning, which includes:

• Picking up litter
• Sweeping and mopping shared areas
• Changing light bulbs in shared areas
• Communal areas (both internal and external) within the boundaries of each of our housing schemes

Pests

We will remove pests in shared areas.

Your responsibilities

There are a number of things that you are responsible for which will help keep your estate in good condition.

Gardening

You are responsible for your own garden. This includes keeping your garden tidy, manageable and free from pests and rubbish.

If you do not keep it neat and tidy, you may be breaking your tenancy or lease agreement and we will ask you to tidy up your garden.

Cleaning

You are responsible for keeping shared areas (such as hallways and landings) clean and free from personal possessions and clutter. This is to ensure fire exits are clear.

Cars, bikes and car parking

• Do not keep unroadworthy or untaxed vehicles on our estates
• Always lock your vehicle
• Don’t park lorries, trucks, large vans, caravans or trailers on our estates without our permission

Rubbish

If you live in a house, you are responsible for providing a dustbin (you may be able to get one from your local council).

If you live in shared flats, we will provide shared bins. But we ask you to tie your rubbish up carefully in plastic bags and only leave rubbish in the area provided.

You will need to arrange with the council to get rid of any large items of rubbish, such as furniture, as refuse collectors will not remove them.

Pests

We will remove pests in shared areas, but you are responsible for getting pests in your home and garden removed. This includes ants, bees, wasps and mice. If you have pests in your home, you should contact the environmental health department and your local council.

Satellite and cable facilities

If you want to fit a satellite dish, you must have our permission. We may have to say no if there are planning restrictions where you live.

If you are interested in getting invovled to help improve our estate services, why not join our Estate Services Improvement Group.

Residents' handbooks

For specific information on our grounds maintenance and estate services at our key worker and student schemes, please refer to your residents' handbook.