The Council does not permit residents to store waste or bulk items within the boundary of a property. This is to preserve a positive street scene and appearance of the borough.
We are responsible for making sure that gardens and land adjoined to a house are maintained. This must be to a standard that is not:
- A hazard to the environment;
- and/or a nuisance in the area.
If you see a garden that is causing a nuisance, please report it to us:
Who is responsible
If the property is:
- Owned by Together Housing, please phone: 0300 555 5557.
- Privately rented and you know who the landlord is, please let them know. If this is not possible, contact us and give us the details.
What a nuisance garden is
A garden that has waste or bulky items in it or rubbish that could cause a nuisance. This can be:
- Piles of dumped waste.
- Rotting food.
- Dumped furniture.
- Mattresses.
- Overflowing bins.
- Abandoned building materials.
It also includes anything from the garden that has also spilled over onto the pavement or street.
We do not class as a nuisance or hazardous:
- Items waiting for collection.
- Material that are being used on work that is in progress.
Note: For trees and greenery that overhangs the pavement or street (public highway), please see: Verges and trees.
What will happen
Once we get a report about a nuisance garden:
- We will write to the occupier bringing the matter to their attention asking that they remove the waste.
- After seven days we will visit the site to check for any improvement.
- If no action is taken by the owner or occupier, we may issue a formal notice to remove it.
- Failure to comply with a formal notice is an offence, that could result in a fine. Also, we may arrange for the clearance and charge this back to owner or tenant.