Grounds maintenance

We want you to feel proud of where you live.

Our grounds maintenance service helps keep communal outdoor areas clean, safe and well maintained throughout the year.

Where we provide this service

Our in-house Grounds Maintenance team looks after estates in:

• North Tyneside
• Newcastle
• Gateshead
• Sunderland
• Durham

In Northumberland, grounds maintenance is carried out by our partner, Northumberland County Council.

All work is carried out to a clear service standard and schedule. This may change depending on the season, weather and ground conditions.

What you can expect

We provide a regular programme of maintenance to help keep shared outdoor spaces tidy, safe and enjoyable.

Grass cutting

Grass cutting usually takes place between April and October.

During this season, communal grassed areas can receive up to 14 visits. This helps keep them neat, healthy and well maintained.

At our Retirement Living and supported schemes, we provide a cut and collect service. This means grass cuttings are collected after the grass has been cut.

Grass edging

We edge around green spaces, borders, trees and buildings.

This helps create a clean, tidy and well-defined finish.

Hedges and shrubs

We prune and maintain hedges and shrubs to help keep areas neat and safe.

We also cut them back where needed to help keep paths clear and improve visibility.

Please note that hedge cutting may be restricted between April and October if nesting birds are present. This is in line with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Weed control

We regularly inspect hard surfaces and planted areas.

Where needed, we use targeted weed treatments to help keep communal areas tidy.

Litter picking

We carry out routine checks of communal areas.

This includes removing litter from communal paths, grassed areas and shrub beds.

Weather and ground conditions

We aim to complete work as planned, but poor weather can sometimes cause delays.

Heavy rain can leave grassed areas waterlogged. Cutting grass when the ground is too wet can:

• damage the grass
• leave deep ruts from machinery
• affect the long-term condition of green spaces

Before starting work, our team will check the ground conditions. If it is too wet, grass cutting may be delayed until it is safe to continue.

Where possible, we will still make use of the visit by carrying out other tasks, such as:

• litter picking
• weed control
• general tidying

Our commitment

We are committed to:

• keeping neighbourhoods clean and well maintained
• delivering services safely and responsibly
• protecting wildlife and green spaces
• providing a reliable and consistent service