Housing Service - Grass Cutting Scheme

Grass Cutting Scheme 2025 

Following a consultation with tenants, we have recently reviewed and made changes to the Grass Cutting Scheme.

About the Scheme
The Grass Cutting Scheme is available for a limited number of eligible tenants who will get their grass cut around 10 times during April and October.  This does not include the picking up of grass cuttings or the upkeep of shrub beds and plants.  

Eligibility criteria
You will be eligible if:

• you are a Council tenant with sole responsibility for maintaining your garden; and
• you are not able to cut their grass due to a recognised substantial and long-term illness, physical or mental health disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010*; and
• no other tenant lives with you who is able to cut the grass (please note this does not include other members of your household who are not tenants); and
• you get a physical or mental health related benefit.  Examples of these benefits include, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) and Attendance Allowance. We may ask for evidence to confirm the receipt of benefit.

Definition

* Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (from www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010)

You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

What ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ mean
• ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, e.g. it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed
• ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more, e.g. a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection

Progressive conditions
A progressive condition is one that gets worse over time. People with progressive conditions can be classed as disabled.

You automatically meet the disability definition under the Equality Act 2010 from the day you’re diagnosed with HIV infection, cancer or multiple sclerosis.

How to apply
Tenants must apply each year.  If you want to apply for the Grass Cutting Scheme, check if you meet the above eligibility criteria and if you do, fill in our online application form.

If you need a paper application form, please phone 0300 123 4566 or email housing@moray.gov.uk.

You must apply for the Grass Cutting Scheme each year before the service starts in April. We will publicise when the Scheme is open for applications.

What happens after you apply
We will notify you of our decision.

If you are accepted on to the Scheme, you must make sure that your garden:
• is free from debris, including any dog excrement; and
• is tidy and that it can be accessed to cut the grass.

If we are not able to cut your grass, you will still be charged.  There will be no change to the annual fee.

Tenants are responsible for maintaining their gardens to a suitable standard.  If one off preparation work is needed to bring a garden up to an acceptable standard before joining the scheme, we will arrange for the work to be carried out and the tenant will be recharged for the costs.  This is in addition to the annual charge.  If preferred, tenants can use a private contractor.

Cost of the Scheme
The annual charge for the Scheme is £248.80 + VAT = £298.56.  Tenants who get a means tested benefit such as Income Support or Pension Credit may get a discount and will pay an annual charge of £120 + VAT = £144.  We may ask for evidence to confirm the benefit entitlement before any discount is applied.

Payment
Payment must be made in full by 31 October 2025.  If preferred, tenants can pay by instalments.  We will send tenants an invoice which will include details of how to pay.

The application deadline for the Grass Cutting Scheme is 13 February 2025.  

If your application is approved, you will be added to the Grass Cutting List for 2025.  Your confirmation letter will give you more information.

If you are accepted on to the Scheme, we will share your contact details with the Council Open Spaces team who provide the Grass Cutting Scheme on our behalf.   Our privacy notice has more information.

More information
• Grass Cutting Scheme
• Grass Cutting Scheme FAQs
 

The revised Grass Cutting Scheme will be implemented on 1 April 2025.