Gardens

Your responsibilities
Bonfires and Barbecues
Trees
Leaving vehicles in your garden
Erecting structures and ponds
Summer Garden Maintenance Scheme
Winter Clearance Scheme
Complaints about a neighbour's garden

Your Responsibilities

You must keep your garden tidy by cutting the lawn and trimming the hedges and bushes and by keeping it free of rubbish.

Bonfires and Barbecues

You can have a bonfire or barbecue as long as you do not cause a nuisance with the smoke or the smell of the smoke, and it does not cause any risk to the property or other buildings.

Trees

You must not damage or cut down any tree in your garden unless you have our written permission.

Leaving vehicles in your garden

You must not park a motor vehicle or trailer, caravan or boat anywhere in your garden without our permission. If we give permission you will need to apply to our recommended contractors to construct a drive or hard standing and a dropped kerb and to pay the cost of getting this done.

Erecting Structures and Ponds

You must get our written permission before you erect things like sheds, garages, pigeon lofts, aerials or satellite dishes, or if you want to carry out major landscaping or construct a pond.

Summer Garden Maintenance Scheme

What is the Garden Maintenance Scheme?

The garden scheme entitles Oxford City Council tenants to a maximum of one hour's work once a month to cut lawns, prune and cut hedges and borders. This equates to two gardeners attending to your garden for 30 minutes.

Some smaller gardens may receive fewer visits, at the discretion of the Garden Team. However, it is not for gardens that are excessively overgrown.

How do I apply if I have not registered before?

To apply for next year's Summer Garden Scheme, check you meet the criteria below and then download the application form or contact us for a form:

Garden Scheme 2012 Application Form (20kB PDF)

What is the closing date to return application forms by?

Friday 16 March 2012. Applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list in date order of when the application was received.

What is the qualifying criteria for the Garden Scheme?

Tenants must meet all the qualifying criteria below and you must provide medical documentary proof. You must be:

• The Tenant
• In receipt of Housing Benefit (full or partial).
• Have no one living at your property or family living in Oxfordshire who are capable of maintaining your garden. 
• If you do have family and they are physically unable to help you, medical proof of this will also be required.

And be

• 60 or older and physically unable to cope with your garden, (a doctor's or hospital letter is required).

or

• Under 60 with a physically disability, (Disability Living Allowance proof required).

Winter Clearance Scheme

Our Winter scheme runs over the winter period. The scheme is open to any Council tenants that need help getting there badly overgrown garden back under control.

It involves a one off visit to cut back overgrowth, brambles etc. to a level that tenants are then able to manage themselves.

There are limited spaces available so please contact us on 0800 22 76 76 to register.

Complaints about a neighbour's garden

Tenants have a responsibility to maintain their own gardens unless they qualify for the Summer Garden Clearance Scheme above.

Tenancy Management Officers will make sure that tenants maintain their own gardens or get help to do so.

Contact the Tenancy Management team if you wish to complain about a neighbour's garden.

Page last reviewed 20 September 2011