Gardens and communal areas - dos and don'ts

GARDENS

Properties with gardens are highly sought after, but can mean hard work. Looking after your garden - keeping it nice and tidy - encourages everyone to take pride in where they live.

Getting help

We hope you'll enjoy your garden, but if you have difficulty maintaining it, please contact your housing officer on 023 92 545665 or HousingOfficersGroup@gosport.gov.uk .  They'll work with you to enable you to maintain your garden to an acceptable standard.

It is worth looking on free ads and social media marketplaces for tools that are free or at minimal cost. The internet, libraries and charity shop bookshelves are good places to pick up information on gardening.

Gosport Voluntary Action (GVA) offer a 'mend and tend' service, which includes gardening.  Please note, that there is a cost for this service www.gva.org.uk

Your responsibilities

•  You must keep your garden clean and tidy. This is a requirement of your tenancy.
•  Some areas of fencing may be your responsibility, check with your housing officer if you are unsure.
•  You must keep your garden free from anything likely to:

o   be an obstacle to anyone lawfully there

o   be a fire risk

o   be a health and safety hazard

o   cause structural damage

• You must not plant a tree within 5m of your property without permission from your housing officer. 
• You must not plant the following:

o   cherry laurel

o   false acacia

o   fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed)

o   Leyland cypress

o   poplars

o   sumach

COMMUNAL AREAS

Communal area land must not be cultivated. Unless you have your own garden or have been given permission from the council as your landlord, please do not plant shrubs or alter communal land in any way. Please let your housing officer know if you have concerns about communal garden areas.