Your garden is your space, and we want you to enjoy it and make it your own. That's why we're happy for you to plant, potter, and personalise it, within a few guidelines that keep things safe for you and your neighbours. Take a couple of minutes to read what's below before you get started. 

What you can do without asking us first 

• Plant flowers, bulbs, seeds, herbs, fruit, and vegetables 
• Plant shrubs in your garden, other than the front garden, in line with the planting guidelines below 
• Mow and maintain the rear garden lawn regularly 
• Carry out routine gardening, including weeding, watering, pruning and general upkeep 
• Use garden furniture for everyday use 
• Use barbecues responsibly, making sure they're operated safely and don't cause a nuisance to neighbours 
• Use patio heaters safely, following the manufacturer's instructions 
• Put up temporary gazebos, parasols or similar freestanding structures, provided they're removed when not in use for extended periods and are secured safely 
• Stain your fence using a clear or light brown varnish that matches the colour of the fence itself. Painting of fences is not permitted. 

Planting guidelines 

If you're planting shrubs, here's the guidance to follow. 

Where you can plant: 

• Only within your own garden beds or borders, not in shared or communal areas, pathways, or over drains, manholes or underground utilities 
• Nothing may be planted directly against or attached to a fence, wall or shed 
• You can dig your border right up to the fence boundary 

Keeping roots at a safe distance: 

• Shrub and small plant roots must be kept at least 0.3 metres from the fence line 

Height and growth: 

• Plants must not exceed 2.5 metres in height at maturity without regular pruning 
• Keep them to a size that doesn't overshadow neighbouring gardens or risk damaging the property, fences or drains 

What you can't plant 

• Hedges of any kind 
• Trees of any kind, including but not limited to large forest trees, including leylandii and other conifers, eucalyptus, poplar, willow and oak 
• Bamboo, ivy or other running, invasive-rooted plants 
• Any other species that would reasonably be expected to exceed the height or distance guidance above at maturity 
• Never plant Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, and Himalayan balsam must never be planted. It's a criminal offence to plant or cause these species to grow in the wild under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

Not sure if a species is suitable? Just ask us before you plant, we're happy to guide you. 

Patio extensions 

Patio extensions can be a great addition to your garden, but any extension must be approved by us in advance. Approved work must be carried out by one of our approved contractors, at your cost, to make sure it's completed to our standard. To request an extension, please contact us at requests@forucorners.com. Once approved, the extension must meet the following conditions: 

• The extension is level with, and flush against, the existing patio 
• The new paving matches the existing patio in size, style and colour 
• The extension doesn't block drains, manholes or utility access, or unreasonably reduce the remaining garden area 

Front gardens 

Front gardens must stay as they are, we're not able to allow planting beds, hedges, trees, shrubs, or any change to the layout or surface. You're still welcome to display potted plants at the front of the property, provided they don't obstruct pathways or access. 

What we can't allow 

• Modifying or altering the front garden, other than displaying pots (see Front Gardens above) 
• Installing decking 
• Laying a new patio, or extending an existing one, other than in line with the Patio Extensions conditions above 
• Painting, staining or treating fences, gates or other boundary structures 
• Installing fixed awnings, permanent gazebos, pergolas or similar structures 
• Planting hedges of any kind 
• Planting any tree or shrub that doesn't meet the planting guidelines above, including fast-growing or invasive species such as eucalyptus and bamboo, or that would exceed 2.5 metres in height at maturity 
• Modifying or removing any shed provided in the garden 
• Removing, replacing, relocating or altering fences, gates, walls or other boundary features 
• Carrying out significant landscaping or ground-level alterations 

Fences, gates and boundary walls are our responsibility to maintain and repair, which is why we ask residents not to remove, replace, relocate or alter them. If a fence, gate or wall is damaged and needs repairing or replacing as a result, the cost will be recharged. 

Looking after your garden 

• Keep the garden reasonably tidy throughout your tenancy 
• Cut the grass regularly during the growing season 
• Control weeds and prevent excessive overgrowth 
• Maintain planted areas in a neat condition 
• Keep shrubs pruned within the height and distance limits set out above 
• Make sure root growth doesn't damage foundations, drains, patios or boundary structures 
• Dispose of garden waste responsibly, in line with local collection arrangements 
• Use outdoor equipment and garden features safely 
• Avoid activities that could damage the property, neighbouring gardens or shared areas 

If something's not right 

If you don’t follow this policy, for example, by planting a restricted species, planting too close to a boundary, or carrying out an unauthorised alteration, this may be treated as a breach of your tenancy agreement. If anything in your garden falls outside this policy, we’ll ask you to put it right, for example, by removing or relocating a restricted planting, or reinstating the affected area, before the end of your tenancy. If this isn’t done by then, we’ll arrange for the necessary work to be carried out and recharge you the full cost.