As a Red Kite tenant, we want you to be proud of your home and the community you live in. This means keeping your garden and/or outside space in a tidy condition. It is also a condition of your tenancy and includes the following:
Grass to be regularly mowed
Bushes and hedges to be trimmed
Trees to be maintained
Paths, driveways and gardens to be kept clear of weeds and overgrowth
No rubbish to be stored in the garden
Fences to be in good repair
We will not accept...
- Eyesores – such as cars in a poor condition, tyres, old white goods, mattresses or skips not removed.
- Health and safety risks - such as dog mess, broken glass, unsanitary objects, piles of cigarette butts.
You must...
- Keep all pets, such as dogs, securely and not allow them to cause a nuisance to neighbours or passers-by.
- Get formal written permission from us for any out-buildings, sheds, patios, ponds, driveways – and you will need to keep these in good repair.
It is a condition of your tenancy agreement to keep your garden maintained. If we notice an untidy garden, then a member of our Community Team will contact you to discuss what you need to do to bring it back up to standard.
We know that a garden can be a lot of work, so if you need help you can contact our Grounds Maintenance contractor, who will provide you with a quotation to do gardening tasks for you. For their details, please contact our Relationships Team. Please note that we do not do gardening work for free and it is your responsibility to keep your outside space in good order.
If you have any concerns about your garden or boundary, including any repairs such as broken walls or dangerous trees, please contact us on 01494 476100 or email contact@redkitehousing.org.uk.
Ivy
Ivy (or other climbing plants) growing up brickwork may look decorative, but did you know:
- Ivy is a vigorous climber that attaches itself using aerial roots. These roots can penetrate cracks or joints in walls, potentially causing structural damage over time
- Ivy can hide defects in the building fabric, making maintenance challenging
- It can stop the wall drying out properly after rain, leading to problems with damp and mould
Under the terms of your tenancy, ivy and other climbing plants must not be allowed to grow against the exterior of your home and should be removed.
How to remove ivy or other climbing plants:
- Sever the vines:
- Cut off the vines and aerial roots from the base of the plant.
- Gradually pull away at the vines.
- Remove the dead plant:
- After a couple of days, detach any dead plant material from the walls with a hard brush or paint scraper.
- Dispose of the dead plant with your green waste
- Ground roots treatment:
- Apply a weedkiller to the plant’s ground roots to prevent regrowth.
- Scrape off any remaining rootlets and tendrils with a steel brush.