Essential Information

• Essential Information for Balcony Gardeners

  If you live in a flat and want to garden your balcony, window box or ground-floor space, it is important that you:

  • Get permission from your housing provider. Many housing providers allow ‘managed use’, which means you may be able to use the space for gardening; there may be certain rules you need to follow, which could differ from housing provider to housing provider. Some housing providers may have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to balcony usage or ‘sterile balcony’ policy, which would prevent you from using it for gardening. In this case, focus on houseplants you can grow in your flat!

  • Check your Buildings and Contents Insurance policies to check if there are any restrictions.

  If you get permission to garden your flat’s balcony, window box or ground-floor space, it is essential that you:

  • Do not use fire under any circumstance.

  • Keep all fire escape routes free of obstructions, such as plant pots. This could include common areas such as stairways, deck walkways/linking balconies, or roofs which form part of a fire escape route for yourself and/or others.

  • Don’t make material alterations (e.g. structural alterations) to your flat or balcony when gardening, without first getting consent from your housing provider and approval from building control.

  • Don’t do anything through gardening that would interfere with the fire protection measures for your flat or building (e.g. fire doors, signage), or impact on the compartmentation of your flat, i.e. cause fire to spread more easily from one flat to another or into an escape route.

  • Don’t use, or store, combustible materials for gardening on a balcony (e.g. wooden trellises, petrol gardening equipment, hazardous chemicals, gardening waste etc). Dry compost and dry plant material (e.g. dead plants) can be flammable, so it’s important to keep your plants healthy and well-watered; in the event of a fire, they could encourage fire to spread to a neighbour’s flat. Do not attempt to extinguish any flame or cigarette in plant pots as it will be at risk of igniting.

  • Check the weight restrictions for your balcony with your housing provider, and make sure you don’t exceed them. Lightweight containers and lightweight roof garden soil can help keep weight down.

  • Ensure plant pots and heavy items are kept away from the edge of the balcony and do not hang over the external side of the balcony due to risk of falling and causing injury to anyone below.

  • Avoid positioning pots, planters, or trellises in such a way that they form steps up the balcony rail/parapet, or create trip hazards

  • Ensure that any free-standing structures such as plant pots, stack planters and free-standing arches are robust and weighted down to avoid them becoming damaged or hazardous in high winds. Avoid placing planters or other items on the balcony parapets/rails. If railing planters/hanging baskets are permitted by your management company, keep them on the inside of your balcony.

  • Do not lean over or sit on balcony walls or railings in order to garden, or stand on balcony furniture, ladders or stepladders due to risk of falling over the balustrade.

  • Ensure any electrical equipment used for gardening (including fairy lights) is in good working order, suitable for outdoor use and not left unattended when switched on. Avoid wiring it directly into your flat or using extension leads.

  • Use drip trays, saucers or trays underneath plant pots to prevent water overflowing from plant pots and dropping onto balconies below or damaging the structure of your balcony. Make sure that drain outlets are not covered and water flow into them isn’t restricted.

  • Use only peat-free compost.

  • Follow instructions and warnings on gardening products and tools.

  • Be aware that some plants can be hazardous to people or pets if touched or consumed. Check plant labels for toxicity warnings (sometimes stated on label) and take necessary precautions.