Communal cleaning and grounds maintenance

We want everyone to feel proud of where they live. That means making sure communal areas and outdoor spaces are clean, safe and enjoyable.

As part of your tenancy, you may pay service charges that help cover the cost of these services. What we do and what you can expect is explained in our Estate Management Policy.

Grounds maintenance

We look after many outdoor spaces around our homes in North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Somerset. This includes grassed areas, gardens, trees, and pathways. Although, we’re not necessarily responsible for all of these spaces around our homes.

Here’s what we take care of:

Grass cutting

We cut around 55 acres of grass, that’s about 31 football pitches , every two weeks from April to March. Grass cuttings and other vegetation are composted or mulched to help keep the grass healthy. In age-restricted schemes, mulch is removed and reused in other areas.

Litter removal

Before cutting grass, we remove litter from lawns and borders, flower beds and shrubs, hedge bases and fences as well as walkways and car parks.

Trees

We monitor over 1,600 trees across our communities. We recognise the positive difference tree in our communities make from improving air quality and supporting wildlife.

In some instances, we may remove trues but only if they pose a safety risk to people or property. We also plant and replace trees to maintain tree cover.

Hedges, shrubs and flower beds

These are maintained during the growing season. Weeds are regularly removed during this time, either manually or with pet and wildlife-safe herbicides.

Hedges are trimmed twice a year, in June and September.

Moss and leaf removal

We treat and manage moss on pathways from late October to early January. Leaves are cleared from green spaces, paths, and car parks from late October to December.

Communal cleaning

We want you to feel safe and comfortable in your home. That’s why we keep communal areas clean and tidy.

If you pay a service charge for communal cleaning, this may include:

• Windows (communal)
• Lounges
• Staircases, corridors, and landings
• Kitchens, laundry and drying rooms
• Entrances and porches
• Outbuildings
• Toilets
• Lifts.

Who provides the cleaning?

We work with Cobwebs to deliver our communal cleaning service. To help you recognise them easily, their staff and vehicles carry the Cobwebs logo so you can easily recognise them.

Visit www.cobwebs-sw.co.uk to learn more about them.

Here’s what communal cleaning takes place:

General cleaning

This includes cleaning floors, windowsills, skirting boards, doors, light switches, radiators, and ledges.

It also includes removing cobwebs from walls and ceilings, and a deep cleaning carpets in communal areas twice a year.

Entrance areas

This includes the dusting and polishing of stairwells, bannisters, and railings.

Window cleaning

This includes the cleaning of interior and exterior communal windows, glass door frames monthly.

Graffiti

Immediate removal of graffiti if found inside communal areas.

Questions and feedback

If you're unsure whether you pay for these services or have questions about what you receive, get in touch:

• Email act@alliancehomes.org.uk
• Call 03000 120 120
• Send us a message through Connect, our online customer portal
• Complete a ‘Contact us’ form on our website
• Write to or visit us at Alliance Homes, 40 Martingale Way, Portishead, BS20 7AW.

Help shape our services

If you’d like to give feedback on the quality of the ground’s maintenance or communal cleaning services you receive, consider becoming an Estate Champion.

Your feedback will help us make improvements to the services you receive and make a difference for other customers.

To find out more about becoming an Estate Champion, email our customer engagement team on customernegagement@alliancehomes.org.uk.