Can I make improvements to my home?
You can make improvements, alterations and additions to your home, but you must have our consent before you do.
We won’t withhold our consent unreasonably. However, we may give it on condition that the works are carried out to a certain standard. It’s a breach of your tenancy agreement to do the work without our consent or fail to comply with our conditions. We may charge you if we have to improve the work you’ve done or reinstate the property to its original condition.
You‘re responsible for repairing and maintaining any improvements, alterations and additions you make unless we agree in writing that we’ll be responsible for them.
At the end of your tenancy we may require you to:
- Remove any improvements, alterations or additions
- Make good any damage caused by the improvement, alteration or addition
- Pay any costs we reasonably incur if we have to carry out the work because you have failed to.
Can I keep pets?
You can keep the following pets without our permission:
- One domestic cat
- One domestic dog (excluding banned dangerous dogs such as XL Bullies)
- A maximum of two small mammals such as rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs
- A maximum of two small caged or contained animals such as budgies, canaries or lizards
- A proportionate number of fish in a reasonably sized tank
If you’d like to keep more than one cat or dog, or any animals other than those described above, you’ll need our written permission. You can get a pet permission form by emailing us at [email protected].
We won’t withhold our consent unreasonably, but we will consider the type of pet, how many you’d like to keep and where you live. If we refuse your request, we’ll clearly explain why.
We will always give permission for assistance dogs such as guide dogs and hearing dogs.
Pets we don’t allow
We will always refuse permission for the following animals to be kept as pets:
- Animals listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (including large mammals, carnivores, larger or venomous reptiles, dangerous spiders and scorpions)
- Any endangered species
- Any hybrid between a domestic and a wild animal
- Bees
- Dog breeds banned in this country: XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasiliero)
- Guard dogs
- Livestock (including poultry, horses, and cattle)
You must look after your pets properly. We can withdraw our consent if you don’t or if your pets are causing a nuisance to your neighbours.
You can find out more in our Pets Policy.
What should I do if I lose my keys?
We do not provide a lock changing service. If you lose or break your keys, or get locked out, you are responsible for replacing the keys or having new locks fitted.
This includes window and garage keys.
When do you class a home as being overcrowded?
The number of people who should live in a home depends on:
- The number of rooms
- The size of the rooms
- The ages of the people who live there
Your tenancy agreement says how many people are allowed to live in your home.
If you think your home is overcrowded, please tell us.
If your home is overcrowded and you need to move, get in touch with Forest of Dean District Council on 01594 810000 or [email protected].
Can I install CCTV?
You can install CCTV, but you must have our consent before you do. Before we agree to CCTV we may ask you to consider other options such as security lighting, a video doorbell or a neighbourhood watch scheme.
However, we will grant permission if:
- The system only covers your property
- You make good any damage caused by installing the CCTV
- You install suitable signage to let people know the CCTV is there
- You explain why you want to install the CCTV
- We can view the cameras when we ask to, including while they’re being installed
- The system complies with relevant UK law
We’ll refuse or withdraw consent if at any time you fail to meet these conditions.
If your cameras are clearly focused on your neighbours’ homes or property, we may deem this as behaviour capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance which is a breach of the terms of your tenancy agreement. If this is the case, we’ll ask you to remove the CCTV. If you don’t, we reserve the right to take legal action to remove it and recharge the costs to you.
You are responsible for the images you record and must comply with legislation. For example:
- You can only keep information for as long as necessary
- You must be able to justify the use of CCTV under the law
- Your images must be of good enough quality to identify people
You can find more information on domestic CCTV systems at the Information Commissioners Office website, ico.org.uk.