Gardens and outside spaces

If your home comes with a garden, yard or patio, we hope you enjoy it. Your tenancy agreement sets out which outside spaces are part of your home and who looks after what. If you are not sure, just ask us.

Through the seasons

A little and often is much easier than a big tidy once a year.

• Spring and summer. Keep the lawn mown and borders under control. Before trimming hedges or bushes, have a quick look for nesting birds. Wild birds' nests are protected by law while they are being built or used (gov.uk), so it is worth waiting until the young have flown.
• Autumn. Sweep fallen leaves off paths and steps, and keep them away from drains. If you notice gutters overflowing or blocked, tell us. The Met Office warns that blocked gutters can cause leaks into the roof and walls, and gutters are part of the exterior we look after.
• Winter. When strong winds are forecast, tie down or put away garden furniture, trampolines and anything else that could blow about, as the Met Office also advises.

Bins and recycling

Rubbish and recycling are collected by your local council, and each council has its own collection days and rules on what goes in which bin. You can find your collection day and check what your council recycles on gov.uk by entering your postcode. For something large, such as an old sofa or fridge, most councils offer a special collection for a fee.

Talk to us before bigger changes

Everyday planting and pots are yours to enjoy. For anything bigger, such as a shed, greenhouse, pond, new fencing or paving, or cutting down or heavily pruning a tree, please ask us first.

Some changes need permission from someone other than us. Trees can be protected by a Tree Preservation Order, and work to them then needs the council's written consent. Trees in a conservation area need six weeks' notice to the council before certain work, unless an exception applies (gov.uk). Asking us first means any permission needed is in place before work starts, which saves everyone a headache.

Find out more

• Find out your rubbish collection day (gov.uk)
• Recycling collections (gov.uk)
• Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas (gov.uk)
• Wild birds: protection and licences (gov.uk)