Residents across London are being urged to maintain their gardens after a Dagenham homeowner received a £2,000 penalty for allowing his property to fall into disrepair.
Barking and Dagenham Council took enforcement action against a resident on Ford Road, Dagenham, after receiving a complaint in May last year.
The issue centred around the condition of both the front and back gardens, which were described by the council’s Environmental Enforcement Officers as unsightly, a potential breeding ground for pests and rodents, and detrimental to the appearance of the neighbourhood.
Following the initial complaint, officers inspected the property and issued a warning letter to the homeowner, Mr Sheehan, instructing him to clean up the gardens. However, when officers returned on 10 July, they found that no significant effort had been made to address the issue.
Legal Action Taken Under Planning Law
With no improvements made, the council escalated the matter by serving a legal notice under Section 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990. This notice required Mr Sheehan to clear the waste and bring the garden up to an acceptable standard. A compliance deadline was set for 14 August 2024.
Despite the legal notice, a subsequent inspection on 20 September 2024 confirmed that the gardens remained in the same state. Mr Sheehan had failed to comply with the notice, prompting the council to take the matter to court.
On 25 March this year, Mr Sheehan was summoned to Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, where he was found guilty in his absence. The court ordered him to pay a £440 fine, legal costs amounting to £1,267 to Barking and Dagenham Council, and a £176 victim surcharge, bringing the total penalty to £1,883.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said, “Gardens like this are not only an eyesore but as this case shows can pose a real risk to the local community as an ideal environment for pests and rodents.
It is crucial for property owners to maintain their land to ensure the well-being of the neighbourhood, and while the enforcement process can be lengthy, we will take action.”
This case serves as a strong reminder to Londoners that neglecting garden maintenance could result in significant financial penalties and legal repercussions.
