We all hope that our homes and communities are peaceful and happy places in which to live.You, your household and your neighbours play an important part in shaping the community in which you live.
Remember that although the council is your landlord your neighbours may rent from other housing providers or own their own home, but everyone contributes to the environment and community they live in.
Please be a considerate member of your community
The way that you live in and use your home, your garden, and shared areas is very important, please be mindful and respectful of others and the way they choose to live.
- Do say ‘hello’ to your neighbours if you want to, but don’t be offended if they don’t say ‘hello’ back, some people just want to keep themselves to themselves.
- Do make friends with your neighbours if you want to, but don’t expect us to resolve things if you fall out, please be sensible about it.
- Do look out for each other, for example if you notice you’ve not seen your neighbour for a while and that’s unusual and you’re worried, get in touch.
- Do speak to your neighbour if they are causing you a problem such as playing loud music. Often people will be polite and turn it down if they didn’t realise it was an issue. Do respond politely and positively if your neighbour raises an issue with you.
- Do show everyone in your community respect. We value differences and the positive contributions that all people can bring to our communities, we expect you to do the same.
Being a responsible pet owner
We love animals at Folkestone & Hythe District Council, so we know they bring you happiness and comfort, but sometimes a home is not best suited to keeping animals and that the animal's welfare is really important to us.
Our pet procedure has flexibility depending on where you live and the type of home you live in. It has a focus on the welfare of the animals and consideration of neighbours and your wider community. Please don’t allow your pet to cause a nuisance for others living or working in your community. Please do speak to us if you aren't sure whether your home is suitable to have a pet.
Looking after your own garden
The condition of your garden can have quite an impact on your community. If it’s overgrown or full of rubbish not only does it look awful, but it can attract pests such as rats. Taking care of the environment is important to F&HDC and we expect our tenants to do their bit.
Please take good care of your own garden or yard if you have one.
- Do keep it clean, tidy and free of rubbish
- Do cut the grass regularly and don’t let it get overgrown
- Do keep hedges and bushes trimmed (watch out for nesting birds in the spring though!)
- Do keep trees trimmed and a safe distance from your home
- Do look after paths
- Do pick up and dispose of fallen leaves so they don’t block your drains or cause you to slip on them when wet
- Do look after your fences if you have them*
- Do pick up after your animals, it can get very smelly for others if you don’t
- Do ask for our written permission if you want to make improvements to your garden such as patios, decking etc.
- Don’t keep any scrap materials in it
- Don’t cut down or plant trees without our written permission
- Don’t remove or erect fencing without our written permission
- Don’t erect any sheds, greenhouses, aviaries or other outbuildings without our written permission
- Don’t use your garden for parking without our written permission
- Don’t have a bonfire unless it is safe distance from your home and you tell your neighbours first
- Don’t store gas canisters or bottled gas in your garden unless they are a safe distance from your home.
* We will only supply and maintain fencing where it adjoins a public right of way or prevents danger, e.g. where there is a drop in levels. Elsewhere we may provide post and wire boundary markers, but not fencing.
Looking after communal gardens
Some communal and landscaped areas are maintained by the council or their contractors, and you will pay for this in your service charge. We will do our best to make these a pleasant environment, places for all residents to enjoy.
- Do enjoy the communal garden but bear in mind it is a shared space for all residents to enjoy, please be mindful and respectful of others, don't have take away BBQs or parties
- Do keep a close eye on your children if they are playing in communal gardens
- Don’t damage or remove plants or make any other changes to the communal garden without talking to us first
- Don’t install or place your own items in the communal garden, e.g. paddling pools, trampolines
Keep the noise down
Most homes are not completely soundproof and households will always make a certain amount of noise just through day-to-day living.
This is especially true if you are living in a flat with other people above or below you or if your home is attached to another home. We suggest the following, to help you be a considerate neighbour:
- Carpet your floors if you can as this absorbs sound, do not use laminate or wooden flooring in flats
- If you have speakers place them on stands and not directly on or next to walls which can make the sound transfer
- Tell your neighbours if you are planning on having a family celebration or party
- Politely let your neighbour know if they are being noisy and it is affecting you
- Don’t play radio, television, recorded music or musical instruments so loudly that they can be heard outside of your home so it causes a nuisance or annoyance to others at any time
- Don’t use noisy appliances like washing machines or a vacuum cleaner at unsociable hours when it could cause a nuisance to your neighbours
- Don’t do DIY at unsociable hours
- Don’t slam or bang doors or cupboards
- Don’t scream, shout, argue or use offensive language as your neighbours will likely hear this
Please remember that as the tenant you are ultimately responsible for the behaviour of all the residents living with you and visitors to your home
What to do if you are experiencing noise or nuisance
In the first instance it is usually better to talk to a neighbour if they are causing you a nuisance. Try to resolve it between you if you can and if you feel safe to do so.
If you can’t resolve it and the nuisance continues, please keep a log of what is happening, when and how often and let us know. If the nuisance is also a criminal offence, i.e., very loud and persistent, offensive or frequent, please also report it to the Police.
We will take details of what has been going on and agree an action plan with you. This plan will often have actions for us and for you, for example keeping a diary of what happens.
Most nuisance is a misunderstanding between people or a clash of lifestyles. But sometimes nuisance can become antisocial behaviour.
F&HDC housing service takes antisocial behaviour seriously and we will do everything we can to help resolve the situation.
Racial and other harassment
Harassment is a deliberate act or threat targeted at a person or group of people that may interfere with their peace and comfort, or cause offence. Harassment can be on any ground including the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.
We take harassment very seriously, please tell us if you are experiencing it, we will treat it confidentially. We will listen to what you are experiencing and agree an action plan with you and tell you about the support available to you.
If you, your household, or your visitors are threatening or causing harassment you can expect us to investigate this and take legal action against you if it’s proven. This action could include warnings, court orders and in the worst case, evicting you from your home.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse includes any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
The abuse can include, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse. You must not use or threaten to use violence or abuse against any other person living with you.
If you do, we may take steps to exclude or evict you from your home. If you are experiencing domestic abuse we will work with you and other agencies (where you consent) to help you to feel safe and supported.
Looking out for your neighbours
As part of a community, it is up to all of us to look out for each other. Here are a few things that although rare, are worth keeping an eye out for.
A change to your neighbour’s routine
Most of us have fairly regular routines. So if you suddenly stop seeing your neighbour pass by at the usual time, or if you haven’t seen them for a while, give them a knock just to check everything is ok.
A change to a neighbour’s property
If you notice that a neighbour’s property is starting to look a bit different - maybe the grass at the front is not getting cut, or litter is building up in the doorway – then this could be a sign that things are not quite right. Give them a knock just to check everything is ok. If you are concerned but don’t feel comfortable calling on them yourself then let us know and we can make some enquiries.
Cuckooing
Cuckooing is a serious situation where the home of a person – often a vulnerable person – is taken over by others, usually as a base for drug dealing. The signs of this can include a sudden increase in visitors, at all times of the day and night the property may start to look neglected or scruffy, sometimes with the curtains closed all day an increase in cars or bicycles parked outside the person who lives there behaving unusually, maybe seeming more distant, or not being seen at all.
Cuckooing in F&HDC properties is rare thankfully, but it does happen. If you are concerned that a neighbour may be being cuckooed, please report it to the Police on 101, and report it to us.
Mate crime
Mate crime is also rare and can be less easy to spot. Mate crime happens when someone “makes friends” with a person, usually a vulnerable person, and goes on to abuse or exploit that relationship.
Mate crime mostly happens indoors where you won’t see it, but some signs you might notice can be changes in the appearance or mood of a neighbour they may have an ‘unusual’ new friend – for example an elderly neighbour suddenly being befriended by a much younger person unusual activity at the property – more noise than usual for example parcels or packets being delivered frequently.
If you a concerned that a neighbour may be a victim of Mate Crime, please report it to the Police on 101.
It is a bit beyond what the housing team can normally investigate, but we will always be happy to discuss any concerns with you.
Parking
The council owns parking areas in many locations, the way we manage these varies depending on the location and demand for spaces in each area. However, there are some parking areas that we don't own, these may be privately owned or owned by a town council.
Here are the general rules on parking:
- Do park carefully and responsibly so as not to block access for others including emergency vehicles
- Do park within marked bays if there are any 6Don’t park unroadworthy, untaxed or abandoned vehicles in our parking areas or on roads. Unsafe vehicles may be removed
- Don’t park on gardens, pavements, verges, footpaths, or grassed areas
- Don’t carry out any work on your vehicle or other vehicles other than weekly safety checks (tyres, fluid, etc.) whilst parked in our area
- Don’t carry out any spray painting or welding whilst parked in our area
- Don’t park commercial vehicles or vans without our written permission
- Don’t park boats, trailers, campervans or caravans
What we expect of you
- That you’re a considerate neighbour and member of the community that doesn’t cause a nuisance, annoyance or harassment of any kind to your neighbours, their visitors or us
- You keep your own garden in a good condition
- Communal and parking areas are used appropriately
- That you do not commit domestic abuse
- You’re a responsible pet owner
What you can expect from us
- Investigation and a reasonable and proportionate response where you are causing a nuisance, antisocial behaviour or harassment
- A swift but reasonable response where your garden is overgrown or not in good order
- Communal and parking areas are well maintained and we will investigate inappropriate use
- A supportive response if you report domestic abuse to us as a victim. A firm response if you are found to have caused domestic abuse
- A flexible approach to keeping pets depending on the suitability your home
- Investigation and a reasonable and proportionate response if your pets are causing a nuisance