Private rented property standards guidance

At the commencement of a new tenancy the landlord should ensure (where applicable) that:

• all gardens and yards are clean and tidy, free of all rubbish and items discarded by previous occupancies 
• all outbuildings, sheds, and garden structures are in sound, safe condition and fit for purpose.
• all electric or petrol-powered gardening equipment provided for tenant uses is regularly tested and certified as being safe for purpose and use. 
• the responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of any garden spaces during the period of a tenancy, is clearly defined and understood by the tenant, at the beginning of that tenancy. 
• That any lawns are recently mown, and any trees, shrubs or hedges are trimmed to a suitable level. Over hanging hedges trees or shrubs that encroach onto the public footpath or highway must also be trimmed back to the property line.