Gardening and decorating help for council tenants

We are committed to providing a welfare service to our most vulnerable tenants within our community, by proving some garden and/or internal decorating, where it has been identified that the work is necessary and the tenant fulfils the current criteria.
 

Welfare garden scheme

You can ask us for help if you cannot look after your garden because you have a physical or mental health disability or a long term illness.

We can do a one-off clearance or come regularly to tidy up your garden.

Eligibility

To qualify for the welfare garden scheme you must:

• be an Uttlesford District Council tenant
• not have any relatives or friends living nearby or household members, who are capable of maintaining the garden
• be in receipt of a health or disability related benefit. If you do not receive this type of benefit but have health problems or a disability that makes it difficult for you to maintain your garden, you may still be considered for this scheme.   

Cost

Clearances

A one-off clearance costs from £24.00.

A one-off large clearance costs £54.00 This covers a substantial clearance where the majority of the garden is higher than 1 metre, this includes bramble, grass and weeds.

Grass and hedge cutting

Grass cutting throughout the growing season and up to two hedge cuts a year costs £3.60 per week.

This charge will not be covered by Housing Benefit and is payable throughout the year.

Apply

To apply you will need to contact your housing officer on 01799 510510

They will visit your property and carry out an eligibility assessment.

Tenants who are in rent arrears are not automatically eligible for the maintenance visits. Each case will be reviewed individually.

We will write to you to confirm if you are eligible for the scheme and how you can pay for it.

What is not included in the scheme

We cannot carry out:

• rotavating or garden levelling
• paving or fences
• removal of hazardous materials, including glass, toxic liquids or chemicals
• works to trees including lopping or branch removal
• complete removal of trees, bushes and hedges
   

Welfare redecoration scheme

You can ask us for help if you live in our designated elderly person's accommodation and you cannot redecorate the inside of your home because you have a physical or mental health disability or a long term illness.

We will decorate one room every 2 years using standard paints

If you would like specific paint to be used or you want to have a room wall-papered then you must provide the paint and paper. 

Eligibility

To qualify for the welfare redecoration scheme you must:

• be an Uttlesford District Council tenant in designated elderly persons accommodation
• be in receipt of a health or disability related benefit. If you do not receive this type of benefit but have health problems or a disability that makes decorating your property difficult, you may still be considered for this scheme.    
• not have any relatives or friends living nearby or household members who are capable of decorating your home
• have a room that is need of redecoration

Cost

There is no cost providing you meet the eligibility criteria.

Apply

To apply you will need to contact your housing officer on 01799 510510. You can also get in touch with us using alternative methods via our contact us page.

They will visit your property and carry out an eligibility assessment.

Tenants who are in rent arrears are not automatically eligible for the maintenance visits. Each case will be reviewed individually.

We will write to you to confirm if you are eligible for the scheme and how you can pay for it.