Welcome to your latest update on our communal grounds maintenance service!
We have now merged with Watford Community Housing to form Chime Housing! As a former Thrive customer, you will still receive grounds maintenance services under Groundscapes and current terms and conditions remain the same for now. If you have any concerns or questions regarding your grounds maintenance service, please continue to contact Thrive Homes directly.
We have been working with Groundscapes to resolve issues affecting site visits. Their new management team is fully engaged and working alongside us to bring the service back up to the expected standard. Thank you for your patience while this work is carried out.
We’ve also reviewed and adjusted schedules to better support teams and improve the overall service. As a result, Groundscapes may visit sites within 72 hours of their originally scheduled time.
You can read more about the steps we’re taking to ensure a good service below. You can also share feedback about your grounds maintenance service at any time. If you have any concerns about the service or missed site visits, please contact us.
During periods of hot weather, some tasks may take longer to complete so that works can be undertaken safely. Groundscapes are taking appropriate measures, including regular breaks, to ensure the wellbeing of their teams and maintain safe working.
The end of nesting season is approaching, so Groundscapes will soon be able to complete more extensive cutbacks on hedges. This is due to take place throughout the winter months, and for now hedge cutting is still limited to essential work where growth is obstructing access routes such as pathways and windows due to legislation protecting birds.
With the growing season now underway, Groundscapes current focus is on weed control across shrub beds and hard surface areas. Groundscapes is also continuing to carry out tree maintenance, and this is being done in order of priority across sites where work is required. We’ll contact you if works are due to be carried out on your estate.
It’s important that communal areas are kept free of personal items to ensure all fire escapes and routes remain clear. This applies to both internal shared spaces and the external grounds. Large items should also not be left on lawns, as Groundscapes are unable to move them due to the risk of damage. Keeping these areas clear of items helps protect you and your neighbours. It also allows Groundscapes to properly maintain communal spaces.
If you’re aware of any fly tipping, please report this to us as soon as possible. It's helpful to know what items have been dumped, if there is a certain day or time you are noticing this happening and if you have any idea who may be responsible.
By sharing this information with us, we can take steps to preventing it happening again which keeps service charges down. We’re continuing to work with the local authority to tackle this, who can take further action against individuals for fly tipping.
We are happy for customers to join us on site visits where we can. This way, we can address your concerns whilst we’re on site. If you’d like to join one of the team on their visit, simply let us know and we’ll let you know when we’re popping by.
We’re in the progress of completing our next round of visits with representatives and contractors. We’re pleased to share that initial feedback from previous visits has been positive. To ensure ongoing collaboration and a continued focus on the needs of each block, we arrange joint inspections every 3 months.
If you would like to become a block representative, simply contact us! As a block rep, you’ll join our team on inspections to report back on things like the quality of cleaning and grounds maintenance and any issues within communal areas around your home. For more information email: enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk or call us on 0800 917 6077.
We’ve reviewed our grounds maintenance standards to make sure it’s clear what Groundscapes are responsible for and what our offer is to you.
We continue to work with our contractors to address concerns raised in our cleaning and grounds maintenance surveys:
- We have regular meetings with the contractor so we can tackle any emerging issues and keep you informed early on.
- We’re monitoring visits, including carrying out spot checks and assurance checks.
- We check that contractors tidy up behind themselves, hedges are cut and that plants are not destroyed as part of grass cutting.
- We carrying out an estate inspection of each block every three months. Where there are problem sites, we increase these inspections to monthly or weekly where necessary.
- We have now started carrying out our own quality audits each month on a number of estates that receive grounds maintenance, ensuring all estates that receive this service are monitored over time.
Join the Gateway Membership and influence our services! As a Gateway Member you can have a say on how we manage and deliver services like grounds maintenance. Join today and have your say!
Groundscapes are in the process of updating their timetable, and any changes will be shown on their website.
You can now view your grounds maintenance schedule on the Groundscapes website at: groundscapes.co.uk/service-provision
Simply enter your postcode to see when your last visit was and when you next visit will be.
We're always happy to hear from you, so if you have feedback to share with us about the service in general or if there is anything you’d like to hear about in my updates, visit: thrivehomes.org.uk/feedback
Adrian Anstee | Estates Team Leader