Managing Estates
Estate Rangers
The Quality of Life team's four Estate Rangers work in our communities to help reduce crime and fear of crime, develop community spirit and respond rapidly to complaints of ASB.
Estate Rangers are accredited by police forces under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) to provide high-visibility patrols to tackle crime and ASB. As part of an extended police family, Rangers work closely with PCSOs and our street representatives to target identified hot spots.
Flexible hours enable Estate Rangers to carry out inspections immediately while referring longer-standing issues to the antisocial behaviour division of the team. Rapid response to complaints of antisocial behaviour, including abandoned vehicles, litter, and graffiti, deals directly with the issues most important to residents.
Rangers provide better estate services by working with a variety of agencies including schools, youth clubs, local authorities, voluntary organisations and the police on community projects to develop community spirit.
Grounds maintenance
We are responsible for the maintenance of the grounds directly surrounding our flats, maisonettes and shopping parades. We have a contract with Chelmsford Borough Council to carry out the maintenance of this land on their behalf.
The contract sets out various standards such as:
- not allowing the grass to grow over 50 mm in height
- carrying out hedge cutting twice a year during June/July and October/November
- keeping shrub beds neat and tidy
- litter-picking car-parks and drying areas once a month.
If you have any queries about the cleaning of our communal areas please contact our Estate Rangers by phoning 01245 613000 or email: QoLEstateRangers@chelmerhp.org.uk
Cleaning contracts
If you share communal areas with neighbours you share the responsibility to keep them tidy. We also provide a cleaning service for most internal communal areas. Ocean Cleaning Contractors currently provide this service in the Chelmsford and Uttlesford areas.
Ocean Cleaning Contractors carry out the following tasks weekly or where necessary:
- Sweep/vacuum all floor surfaces.
- Wash floor surfaces.
- Wash balustrades, hand rails, refuse chute covers and surrounds.
- Remove bagged rubbish from corridors and landings.
- Remove cobwebs.
- Spot clean walls.
- Wash communal doors, surrounds and glass.
- Sweep and disinfect bins areas.
In addition, all communal windows up to three storeys high are cleaned twice a year.
If you have any queries about the cleaning of our communal areas please contact our Estate Rangers by phoning 01245 613000 or email: QoLEstateRangers@chelmerhp.org.uk
Neighbourhood Agreements:
A Neighbourhood Agreement is a contract that agrees standards of service for a specific area. It is an agreement between local residents, us, and other service providers such as the local council and the police.
We are the first mid-Essex Housing Association to introduce Neighbourhood Agreements. Two areas in Chelmsford were the first to have agreements drawn up to address specific neighbourhood issues. Widford and Melbourne in Chelmsford are the two areas which have welcomed the Neighbourhood Agreements.
The agreement covers issues such as how often the area will be litter-picked, and how quickly graffiti and fly-tipped waste will be removed. In return, residents are asked to keep their homes in a good state, dispose of rubbish appropriately, report acts of graffiti and vandalism, and not cause a nuisance to neighbours.
For more information on Neighbourhood Agreements:
- Information about Neighbourhood Agreements in the Widford area, Chelmsford.
- Information about Neighbourhood Agreements in the Melbourne area, Chelmsford.
Alternatively contact the Quality of Life Team on: 01245 613000 or email: QoLNeighbourhoodCo-ordinatorTeam@chelmerhp.org.uk
Trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs within your garden boundaries are your responsibility. Part C, clause 22 of the tenancy agreement states that the tenant 'must keep the garden in a tidy condition and any hedges adjoining must be trimmed and in good order'.
Shrubs should be well maintained and cut back from other properties and public highways. Trees should be well maintained and not be allowed to grow so big they could cause a nuisance or damage to property. If you want to remove a tree you should always seek permission from us first.
Under Part 8 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, local authorities have powers to deal with complaints about high hedges. Nuisance hedges are defined as two or more evergreen trees or shrubs that are planted in a line and that are over two metres high.
Tenants should make sure that evergreen trees such as leylandii or conifers and shrubs such as laurel are not allowed to grow over two metres high. Most trees should not be planted within five metres of a property, but some trees, such as willow and chestnut, should not be planted within 15 metres. As a rule, the taller the tree will grow, the further away from the property it should be.
If you think a tree is too close to a property and may affect the structure, please contact the Property Management team on 01245 613000 or email: enquiries@chelmerhp.org.uk
If a tree is causing a nuisance by blocking light or overhanging please contact the Estate Rangers by phoning 01245 613000 or email: QoLEstateRangers@chelmerhp.org.uk
