Estate Management covers:

• untidy gardens
• abandoned vehicles
• problem pets
• tackling graffiti, illegal dumping and fly-tipping
• communal areas
• antisocial behaviour in our estates

Our Estate Management Service Standards are:

• the Estate Caretaker Service will carry out checks and visits to make sure we are maintaining the estates to a high standard
• we will remove racist graffiti within 24 hours, and all other graffiti within seven days
• we will reply to complaints and reports of antisocial behaviour within three days - where appropriate, we will contact other agencies to provide help or support
• if we know, or are told, about an abandoned property we will investigate within one working day and, where appropriate, secure the property
• we will consult tenants' groups, and other interested people, about the services we provide

Permission to alter your home is required. This is for anything that changes or adds to the structure, fixtures or fittings of a property.

You must take reasonable steps to make sure that your garden doesn’t become overgrown, untidy, or cause a nuisance. You are responsible for:

• keeping your garden tidy, cultivated, and free of rubbish or scrap materials
• trimming or lopping shrubs, hedges or trees so they are not a nuisance
• maintaining garden paths or patios
• providing and maintaining fencing between gardens

If you fail to do this, we may, after speaking to you, arrange to tidy the garden. We may charge you for this. If the garden is still in an unsatisfactory condition, we may take legal action against you.

If you are elderly or disabled and unable to cut your grass, we offer a summer grass cutting service.

Shared gardens 

You must take your turn at keeping the garden tidy. You and every resident of the block are responsible for taking a turn to look after. For example, a shared drying area. If you and the other residents can’t agree on a rota we will organise one so everyone takes their turn. If you don’t take your turn on the rota we will, after speaking to you, arrange for the work to be done. We may charge you for this work.

The following rules apply for pets:

• you may keep one domestic animal - you need our permission to keep more, or any exotic or unusual pets
• make sure that your pets can’t escape
• your pets must not annoy your neighbours (for example, fouling, noise or smells)
• you must clean up your animal's faeces
• you can be fined or taken to court if you allow your dog to foul public areas or roam
• do not allow your dog to bark continually

We can stop you having pets if you are not a responsible owner.

Looking after common areas is the joint responsibility of the tenants and other residents in flats and maisonettes. This doesn't include sheltered schemes.

Door entry systems should be used properly:

• always keep the main door of your close secure
• if you have a door viewer (spy hole), check to see who is calling before opening the door
• if you are expecting a caller, always ask to see some identification and check it carefully
• if you are unsure, ask the caller to wait outside while you phone the organisation they claim to represent

Key entry fobs are issued to each household living in a block where there is a controlled entry system. The number of fobs issued depends on the size of your household:

• single tenant: two fobs
• couple: two fobs
• children and other household members 14 years or over: one fob per person
• children under 14: no fobs issued

If you have lost your fob, request a replacement from your housing office. There is a charge for replacement fobs.

You must not leave or store anything such as prams, bikes, or plants on landings or stairs. These are used all the time and are the main escape route for residents in case of a fire.