A PLEA has been made to improve the ability for Mid Devon District Council to act over problem gardens at properties of social housing tenants as a new agreement is set to be struck.

Councillor Steve Keable (Liberal Democrat, Taw Vale) said he feared the council lacked power when it came to dealing with issues relating to gardens of council house tenants.

The comments come as the council finalises a new tenancy agreement that occupants of the properties it owns will have to sign.

The last formal update took place back in 2016, and while the council said its policies had taken into account more recent changes in regulations and legislation, the tenancy agreement now needed to reflect those too.

Simon Newcombe, the head of housing and health at Mid Devon District Council, said the gardens policy was “clear” and that there was a responsibility upon tenants to maintain gardens to an adequate standard.

“If residents can’t take care of their gardens on their own, then perhaps they can take advantage of family or friends, or a professional gardening service,” he said.

“In responding to problem gardens, our neighbourhood officers undertake walkabouts in spring and autumn to look at every visible garden to identify any problem ones and take action with each tenant.”

He acknowledged this was “not without challenge” given some tenants were isolated without family nearby, or may have become less mobile than they were when they first moved into their property.

But he added the council had introduced new anti-social behaviour powers in relation to rubbish and vermin in gardens and was “using them more creatively to take formal action”.

Mr Newcombe said it could be possible for the council to undertake the work itself or via a contractor and charge the tenant for the work where other avenues had been exhausted.

Changes to the new tenancy agreement, which were consulted upon with council housing tenants, include a responsibility upon the tenant and Mid Devon Housing to deal with damp and mould, application forms for pets, and the need for permission to be sought by tenants if they wish to install CCTV or camera doorbells at their properties.

Other changes relate to the removal of so-called flexible tenancies, which are now no longer offered, and obligations upon tenants to inform the council about changes to their households or lodgers.

Mid Devon District Council’s said in its report on the changes: “It should be noted that there has been significant change since November 2016 when the tenancy agreement was last reviewed and the amended version came into use.

“Since then, the fire at Grenfell Tower, subsequent legislative and regulatory changes, the pandemic, and the cost of living crisis have all impacted the work of Mid Devon Housing as a landlord.

“It is important that the tenancy agreement in use reflects the external operating environment. In particular, the implementation of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 has brought about significant changes, with the aim of putting tenants at the heart of the work of Registered Providers.”