Assisted Gardening scheme

As a BCH tenant, it is your responsibility to maintain your own garden as per the conditions of your Tenancy Agreement. We understand some of our tenants may find this difficult and therefore provide an Assisted Gardening scheme which is delivered by our Grounds Maintenance contractor.

The scheme provides tenants with a basic maintenance service. It is aimed at tenants who have ongoing poor health and cannot look after their gardens, and who are not able to call on the help of local relatives or friends.

Please note: This is a paid for service. The scheme provides tenants with a basic maintenance service of 12 grass cuts between April and September. If you qualify and receive your benefits through Universal Credit, you will be charged £16.67* per week (£800.16 per year). This will automatically be added to your rent account.

*amount correct as at May 2026

Requirements for eligibility

You may qualify if you live alone and receive (or are entitled to receive) one of the following:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• Attendance Allowance (or and state benefit treated as Attendance Allowance)
• Disability Living Allowance (Care Component - Middle or Higher Rate)
• Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living Component - any rate)
• Or if you are certified as severely sight impaired or blind (or have been de-certified within the last 6 months due to regaining sight)

You may still be eligible if you live with someone else who meets any of the following:

• They are aged 17 or under
• They receive one of the benefits listed above
• They are certified as severely sight impaired or blind (or have been de-certified within the last 6 months due to regaining sight)

Please be aware that you will need to provide evidence of your benefit entitlement.

You will not be eligible if you:

• Are a shared owner or leaseholder
• Have applied for Right to Buy or acquire your home
• Have current anti-social behaviour cases against you where legal action has started
• Have rent arrears or a rent account whereby you are not meeting your repayment arrangement
• Have tenancy breaches where a Notice Of Seeking Possession (NOSP) has been served in the last 12 months

What services are provided?

The scheme is a basic garden maintenance service Our contractor will aim to cut/strim grassed areas a minimum of 12 times a year, subject to weather conditions Grass cuttings will be removed Our contractor will aim to cut hedges twice a year. Hedges will not be cut during the summer months Paved areas will be strimmed/sprayed to minimise weed growth The scheme will operate between March and October

What services are not provided?

Removal of litter, household rubbish or dumped items Work where there is animal excrement (please note that if problems in relation to animal excrement persist then your place on the scheme may be reconsidered) Work in unsafe gardens where dumped, stored or discarded items could cause harm or injury to our staff Carry out landscaping, pond or border maintenance or other garden renovation work Removal of trees, bushes and hedges Planting of trees Administer weed killer or other chemicals

Will Housing Benefit/Universal Credit (UC) cover the service charge?

Tenants who meet the eligibility criteria and are claiming Housing Benefit may get the service charge paid as part of their claim. Assisted Gardening is not an eligible service charge if you receive your housing costs through UC. Therefore, you will need to pay for the service.

 

If you think you are eligible for the Assistance Gardening scheme and would like to apply, please complete the application form below.

There is a limited number of places on the scheme, so you may go onto a waiting list when you apply, and we will get in touch as soon as a place becomes available.

Please note, if your garden is overgrown, you may need to restore it to a satisfactory standard before you are accepted on to the scheme; you will be informed of this during the eligibility assessment.

If you have any queries, please contact: