Not only is gardening a great way to make the most of the green South Manchester communities we’re lucky to live in, it’s also great for both your mental and physical wellbeing.

We receive many calls about overgrown gardens and understand that maintaining them can be challenging. However, it’s important to remember that garden upkeep is your responsibility.

Overgrown gardens aren’t treated as anti-social behaviour (ASB) and we’ll only consider taking legal action over an overgrown garden in very exceptional circumstances. Even then, the costs will be recharged to the tenant as detailed in the tenancy agreement.

If you have a concern about your neighbour’s garden generally, our Housing Officers can only ask tenants to cooperate, explain the impact of an overgrown garden on neighbours, and monitor changes. Before calling us, please speak to your neighbour to understand their situation and try to come to an agreement about what’s affecting you directly. Please note that we cannot intervene if your neighbour is a non-Southway tenant; please contact the local authority if it’s causing you a nuisance.

You can stay on top of your garden by doing basic things like mowing your lawn and trimming hedges. 

Here are some useful tips to keep your garden thriving:

  • Some garden plants can be split to give you more plants for free, and seeds and wildflowers can be sown in Spring and Autumn too.
  • Trim dead or diseased branches from shrubs to prevent damage. Please don’t change your boundary line without consulting with your neighbour and us first.
  • Make simple bird feeders using recycled materials like plastic bottles.
  • Always clean and pack away your gardening tools to keep them in good condition. 

Useful local bulk collection services:

Manchester City Council

Tameside

Cheshire East Council

  • Fences & Hedges

    Application Form for Boundary Reinforcement or Fencing Due to Exceptional Circumstances

    You may use the form below to request boundary improvements under exceptional circumstances. Eligible requests may include:

    • Replacement of front or rear fencing panels
    • Installation of a green boundary at the front or rear of the property
    • Replacement of gates

    Assessment Process
    Applications are assessed by a Housing Officer based on the risk of harm resulting from the absence of a physical boundary. Each case is considered individually. We aim to provide a decision within 20 working days of receiving your application.

    Shared Boundaries
    If the boundary is shared with an owner-occupied, leasehold or privately owned property, additional checks are required to confirm ownership and responsibility. This may extend the decision-making timeline, as the other party may need to agree to or contribute to the works. In some cases, they may choose to carry out the work themselves and request a contribution from us.

    Budget and Scheduling
    Due to a limited annual budget for exceptional circumstances, approved works may be grouped and assigned to contractors on a quarterly basis to ensure value for money. This may result in a waiting period after approval. In urgent cases involving a high risk of harm, works will be issued to a contractor as soon as possible.

    Once your request is approved, rest assured that it will be added to our contractor list. There is no need to follow up unless two months have passed without any updates.

    Tenants Improvements
    We recognise the importance of secure boundaries. However, demand for exceptional boundary replacements often exceeds our available budget, and some requests may be declined or delayed. You may apply for permission to install a boundary at your own expense. Permission will not be unreasonably withheld, but we do not permit the removal of established hedges. Unauthorised removal may result in charges for reinstating the green boundary.

    Repairs and Removals
    All repairs to gates and fencing must be reported to our Customer Hub at 0161 448 4200 or submitted via the Customer Portal. Please note that we may remove boundaries if they pose a health and safety risk. Requests for re-instatement of the boundary will be considered under this process or put forward to a Boundary Treatment Programme.

    Fencing requests

    Applications for fencing under exceptional circumstances can be made using the form below:

    Make a request for fencing

    Please enter your first name.
    Please enter your last name.
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your Southway address.
    Please provide as much detail as possible to help us assess your case and provide you with a response as quickly as possible.
    Please include the approximate length of your garden, and the number of panels you require.
    To submit more than one photo at once, please select all of the photos you'd like to upload, at the same time.
    This may include things like medical evidence, a letter from Greater Manchester Police, etc. To submit more than one document at once, please select all of the documents you'd like to upload, at the same time.
    To submit more than one document at once, please select all of the document you'd like to upload, at the same time.
  • About your garden and outside space

    It is your responsibility to manage and maintain your garden. 

    We take a reasonable and fair approach to dealing with untidy gardens and we take necessary enforcement action against tenants who do not maintain their garden.

    We take action when we see:

    • Overgrown vegetation
    • Unauthorised alterations, e.g. car hard standings and removal of hedgerows
    • Inappropriate storage materials, e.g. car parts, furniture, white goods, kept in gardens driveways or ginnels
    • Animal faeces and pet debris left in gardens
  • Do you need help with your garden?

    We're sorry to have to tell you that applications for this scheme are now closed.

    Some tenants are unable to maintain or work on their gardens themselves

    We offer a subsidised basic gardening service (with a yearly admin fee of £50) to older and disabled tenants.

    You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Concessionary Gardening Service:

    • 70 or over and you do not have anyone aged 16 or over living in your home, or any family members living within a three mile radius
    • 69 or younger AND you receive standard level PIP payments or Attendance Allowance (or middle or high rate DLA), AND you do not have anyone aged 16 or over living in your home, or family members living within a three mile radius

     You will not be eligible for the service if:

    • You have not signed a Southway tenancy agreement
    • Your rent account is in arrears over £450
    • There is an active ASB complaint against you
    • You have applied for Right to Buy or Right to Acquire with the Trust
    • Your Gas Service or Electrical Pet Test are overdue

     Please read the qualifying criteria carefully and if you feel you are eligible for the Service, fill in this form and return it to us at the office or by emailing a signed copy to connect@southwayhousing.co.uk, along with the PIP, ESA or Attendance Allowance award letters as proof