The green spaces and areas around your estate are an important part of making where you live look nice.
DDC and Kent County Council (KCC) have different responsibilities for looking after these areas.
We are responsible for looking after your estate which includes managing the grass cutting and gardening contracts across the Dover district.
Our housing officers help us to keep estates up to standard, but we always welcome tenants contacting us if there is an issue in your local area or if a communal repair is needed.
KCC maintains some of the the land in the Dover district which includes the highways, roundabouts and some pavements. They also cut the grass on highway verges and spray weeds on pavements.
You can find out more about their contract on their website www.kent.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Trees in your garden
Trees and hedges play a vital role on our estates. Not only do they provide character and beauty within our towns and villages, but they also give us oxygen, act as noise barriers and support much of our wildlife.
There are special laws and regulations to protect trees. If you have a tree in your garden that you intend to work on, or if you want to try to stop someone else cutting down a tree, you need to know what to do to ensure you don't fall foul of the law.
The page below will tell you who is responsible for trees, what to do if a tree is protected and how to contact us about dangerous trees.
Neighbours' trees
If a neighbour’s tree overhangs your property, you are usually allowed to cut back the branches or roots to the boundary, provided you do not damage the tree’s health or stability. Any cut material with value (such as fruit or wood) must be offered back to the tree’s owner.
We strongly recommend speaking to your neighbour before carrying out any work to avoid a dispute.
For anything more than minor pruning, consider hiring a qualified professional. Ask them to provide a written description of the work and its expected impact. This can help prevent misunderstandings with your neighbour or accusations of intentional damage.
Before starting any tree work, check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or located in a conservation area. It is your responsibility to confirm this.
Tree roots
The effect of roots on buildings is an extremely complex one.
If you think your buildings are being affected by roots from your trees or a neighbours' then you should contact us for advice.
Please be aware that just because a tree is close to a building it doesn't mean it needs to be removed. In some cases, removing a tree can cause more trouble than leaving it in place. It is essential to get advice before taking any such action.
- email: housing.repairs@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
- phone: 01304 801110
Further information
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