Living in Your Home

Can I take in lodgers or sub-let part of my home?

You do not need our permission to take in a lodger but you do for sub-letting part of your home. See TENANTS' RIGHTS. You should be aware that you would be responsible for all legal aspects of a sub-tenancy including the behaviour of your sub-tenant. Income from lodgers or sub-letting can affect any benefits you receive. Contact the Benefits Agency.

Who is responsible for repairing fences and for garden maintenance?

We are not obliged to renew any fences around properties we own. We will carry out minor repairs to keep good fences in order but we will only renew fencing under a planned maintenance scheme. If you want to put up a fence or wall, or want to replace an existing one you should ask for our permission first. You are responsible for looking after your garden. See Your Garden below. Grass is cut on open plan areas every 15 days during growing months. Contact Community First if there are any problems. See USEFUL CONTACTS.

Can I keep pets?

You can keep most pets but there are some restrictions. See Pets below. It is a condition of the Tenancy Agreement that you are a responsible pet owner. You must ensure your pets do not cause nuisance, danger or a health hazard to neighbours.

How do I get rid of rubbish?

The Council collects household refuse once a week from the black bags, bins and recycling bags or common bins provided. See Rubbish Disposal below.

Can I run a business from my home?

Your Tenancy Agreement states that your home is for residential purposes only. However you must apply to us if you also want to use it for business purposes. Discuss your plans with us.

Can I put up a satellite dish?

You need our permission before you do so. Sometimes you also need planning permission. We will advise you on how and where to locate the dish on your property and about insurance. Also see LIVING IN FLATS.

Can I get help to look after my garden?

The Council can provide some help to older or disabled tenants. The service is a visit 4 times a year. This is to cut lawns, prune hedges and weed flowerbeds. Sometimes we can arrange for a one-off clearance of a garden, for example when a disabled tenant moves to a new property. Contact your Area Housing Office.

Your Garden

We are responsible for:

maintaining door steps, boundary walls and any paths that lead to your front and back doors but not general garden paths
general maintenance of open plan areas.

You are responsible for looking after your garden:

keeping it tidy and free of rubbish
making sure shrubs and hedges do not become a nuisance to neighbours
ensuring that bonfires do not affect your neighbours or cause a danger.

You need permission to:

cut, lop, or prune a tree, or remove a tree or hedge
put up a shed, porch or other structure
park a car, motor home, caravan or other vehicle in your garden
put up a new fence or wall, or replace an existing one.

We have a Garden Maintenance Service which helps pensioners or registered disabled people who cannot garden and have no-one to help them. Ask us for details.

Pets

You must not keep more than two dogs or any dangerous animals.
You cannot keep a dog in a flat or maisonette unless it has a door leading directly into an enclosed garden.
You must keep your pets under control and ensure they do not cause a nuisance. You can be prosecuted and fined eg, if your dog barks continually or you do not clean up after your dog in public places.

Rubbish Disposal

The Council collects household waste once a week from the black bags, bins and recycling bags provided or from the common bins of blocks of flats.
Bulky items will not be collected with household waste but the Council will collect them separately if you call and make arrangements. See USEFUL CONTACTS. There may be a small charge for this service. Otherwise you can take it to your nearest Waste Recycling Centre. Ask where this is at your Area Housing Office.

Parking and Garages

We have garages and also plots where you can put up a garage in most areas of the Borough. If you want to rent a garage or a garage plot you need to complete an application form.
You must not park any kind of vehicle in your garden unless you have got our permission in writing and you have had a proper hardstanding made.
Parking on pavements, footpaths, verges and open plan areas is a breach of the Tenancy Agreement and is also against the law.
Your car may be removed if you park where parking is not allowed or your car causes an obstruction.
You must not use car parking areas to carry out extensive repairs to vehicles.

Window Cleaning

You are responsible for cleaning the windows in your home. Every six weeks we clean the inside of all glass in communal areas of highrise blocks and flatlet or maisonette schemes.

[ Contents | A-Z Index ]

LIVING IN YOUR HOME

Your Enquiry