Living in your home
Remember, what you do in your home can affect your neighbours. Please be considerate.
Your questions answered
Can I keep pets?
You can keep most normal domestic pets but you must be a responsible owner and ensure that your pets do not cause nuisance, danger or a health hazard to other residents or our employees. See Pets.
How do I get rid of rubbish?
The Council normally collects waste once a week from the bins provided. Ask your neighbours which day it is for your area. We also provide various recycling boxes or bins which are emptied once a week. You should take large items or large amounts of waste to a Council skip in your Neighbourhood or to the nearest ‘tip’ in your part of London. You can arrange for a special collection by the Council's Environmental Services. See Rubbish disposal.
Can I run a business from my home?
You can run certain types of business provided you have our written permission to do so. Your business must not disturb your neighbours in any way and you must not receive customers at your home. Of course, your home cannot be used for any immoral or illegal purposes.
What changes can I make to my garden?
You may carry out any reasonable landscaping and planting you wish. You must contact us before removing or cutting down hedges, trees, etc. You need our permission before carrying out certain major tasks. See Your garden and Garages and parking.
Your garden
You are responsible for:
- keeping the garden tidy and free of rubbish
- trimming or lopping any shrubs, hedges or trees to make sure they do not become a nuisance to neighbours
- maintaining any fencing, garden paths or garden features such as patios or terraces.
You need our written permission to:
- put up a garage, shed or greenhouse
- put up or change a wall or fence
- cut down, remove or destroy any bushes, hedges or trees unless you planted them.
Pets
- You must make sure that you keep your pets under control, so that they cannot escape or damage the property or any common areas.
- Your pets must not annoy or frighten your neighbours. This includes fouling, noise or smells.
- You must not allow your animal to foul your home, or any areas you share with neighbours. You can be fined or taken to court if you allow your dog to foul public areas or to roam.
- Do not allow your dog to bark continually inside or outside your home.
- We can stop you or anyone living with you from having pets if you are not a responsible owner.
Rubbish disposal
- Put all rubbish in bags, and put bags in the rubbish chutes, stores or bins provided.
- Recycle as much of your waste as possible using the recycling boxes provided for your home or on your estate. There are also other recycling points around the Borough.
- Do not leave out food waste where it can encourage vermin such as pigeons, mice or cockroaches.
- You must get rid of large items or large amounts of waste in a safe way.
