The application deadline for the 2024 Garden Aid service is 31 January 2024. Any applications received after this date will be added to the list for 2025.
If you have any queries regarding billing for the 2023 season, email us with your full address and invoice number to
Garden Aid
Garden Aid aims to help customers who are elderly, disabled or medically unable to maintain their garden and do not have any other members of their household who are able to maintain their garden for them.
The scheme is for:
- Council tenants over 60 years of age and in receipt of housing benefit.
- Council tenants, private tenants and homeowners that have a disability and are in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (mobility) or the Disability Living Allowance (mobility component) or the Adult Disability Payment (mobile).
- Private tenants and homeowners over 80 years of age.
- No other person living in the house, over the age of 16 an able bodied.
You can apply by contacting your Housing Officer or by calling 0131 200 2300.
Service
Garden Aid is intended as a very basic grass cutting and hedge trimming service. Grass is cut throughout the season, typically from late March to October, and cuttings are disposed to brown bin if there is a valid sticker for the address. If there is no brown bin available, grass cuttings will be left on the lawn area to naturally mulch. Hedge trimming runs from June to August and September to November. To keep the cost to a minimum, service times and dates are not specified but you should expect 10 to 12 grass cuts and 2 hedge trims each year. To be eligible there should be unrestricted access to your garden during operational time (8am-6pm, Mon-Fri). Unfortunately, for efficiency the maintenance team cannot knock on doors to gain access. Should the team be unable to access your garden or if there are obstacles and/or fouling present the service will be delayed until the next operational cycle.
Please be aware that weather conditions and limited resources affect the timetables for this service.
Costs
We charge an annual administration fee to all private tenants and homeowners which is dependent on their grass area and hedge size. The fee is non-refundable and you must pay it before maintenance work is carried out. An application should be made before February and, given your agreement you will remain on the service until you tell us otherwise. The charge is likely to increase each year with details published on the Council’s web-site.
If your application has been certified by a Medical Professional (a GP or a Health Worker) the VAT cost will be removed.
The application deadline each year is 31 January. Applications received after this date will be added to a waiting list for the following year.
If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact your Housing Officer or call Customer Services on 0131 200 2300.
Garden waste collections
if you would like to recieve garden waste collections, you need to register for the service separately. You can during a sign-up window.
If you receive the Council's Garden Aid service for free, you still need to register for collections but are exempt from paying. Introduced in 2022/23, once you''ve registered your free permit will renew every year unless your exemption status changes.
if you pay for the Garden Aid Service you will need to pay to receive garden waste collections unless you meet one of the other exemption criteria.