Estate cleaning and grounds maintenance

Estate cleaning

Cheltenham Borough Council delivers an estate cleaning service to tenants and leaseholders across Cheltenham.

This service is available for all blocks of flats, including sheltered accommodation. The work is carried out by the estate cleaning team.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about this service, please contact us or call 0800 408 0000

Grounds maintenance

This service is for the external communal areas. As part of this service, we will ensure that in the summer months (April to October):

• Grass in the communal areas are cut once a fortnight (subject to weather conditions)
• Hedge and shrub maintenance take place. This is normally in June–August (extra care will be taken during June-July due to bird nesting season) and again in October-November
• Weed spraying takes place. This is normally April-May and again in September-October

What is grounds maintenance?

Grounds maintenance is how we keep things like lawns, shrub beds and hedges tidy and 
well-kept.  We understand the importance of maintaining grounds to a high standard. 

Well maintained outside areas provide attractive and pleasant outdoor spaces for our tenants and their communities. Good grounds maintenance enables wellbeing and provides safe and well-kept areas for play and relaxation. 

How is grounds maintenance delivered and by who?

The maintenance is planned, with a schedule of when this work will be completed so that a specified standard is met at all times. This can depend on the season and suitable weather conditions.

The outdoor spaces are maintained as many times as needed to meet this standard. Ubico provides grounds maintenance services on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council to all designated/communal housing landscaped areas. .

What is the expected standard

Grass 
The communal grass will be cut, with litter removed beforehand. Once the cutting is finished, pathways will be cleared of any clippings. Ubico will maintain the grass and will determine the number of visits and cuts required to meet the agreed standard.

The grass areas are edged at least once every three years. This will normally be completed during the winter months. 

Bulbs 
Any flower beds or areas that contain bulbs will be left until bulbs have stopped flowering and will then be cut back. 

Shrubs   
Shrub beds will be trimmed and pruned at the appropriate time of year for each individual shrub. Planted areas will be weeded.  

Where planted areas are covered by bark they will be topped up. 

Roses 
All roses, rose/flower beds and borders will be kept free of all weeds, pests, diseases and maintained using gardening best management practices.  

Hedges 
Hedges and shrubs shall be maintained using gardening best management practices in 
accordance with Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This means we are unable to cut hedges between March and July if there is visible evidence of nesting birds. 

Weed treatment
A weed‑free environment will be maintained wherever possible. Moss and algae will be treated using the appropriate approved products.

Japanese Knotweed 
Japanese Knotweed will be treated in early March and monitored through to end of 
September. 

Trees 
Growths or shoots will be removed on all tree bases or lower trunks up to a height of 2.5m when 
they reach a length of 20 cm or cause conflict with footpaths or site lines. 

 

Service year planner

Below is an outline of when you can expect the maintenance to be delivered:

• Grass cutting: February to November
• Bulb maintenance: June to July
• Shrub maintenance: January to December
• Rose maintenance: October to November
• Hedge maintenance: August to October
• Weed treatment: March to September
• Japanese knotweed: March to September
• Tree maintenance: October to December
• Grass edging: October to December

Please contact us if you have any questions or feedback about grounds maintenance.