A grandmother who transformed her “jungle” of a garden into a sanctuary has been threatened with eviction by the council – unless she reverses the £30,000 makeover.
Renata Mohamed moved into her council-owned home in Birdham Road, Moulsecoomb, 19 years ago with her three small children.
“When I moved in, the garden was unsafe, with uneven ground and a jungle of overgrown trees, weeds, discarded metal, broken bricks, broken fence and even attracted snakes and foxes”, she said.
“It was not only unsightly but dangerous. My kids were embarrassed growing up because we were not able to use the garden and we couldn’t have anyone round.”
Overgrowth, weeds, broken fences and foxes (Image: Supplied) The 48-year-old said she repeatedly called the council, imploring them to help her fix the garden.
“I kept asking the council for help with the garden, but they said no, it’s the tenant’s responsibility”, she said.
“I couldn’t do it myself – it was very hilly, overgrown and needed so much money spending on it.
“I said ‘ok, I do understand that. I’m just asking you to help make it level, put the fence up and cut the trees and I’ll do the rest’, but they just kept saying ‘no, it’s your responsibility’.”
As the interior of the property was also in a poor state, Renata said she focused on improving the house first.
She said: “As a single mum with three kids, I spent a long time saving to make the inside nice first. That took me nine years.
“From day one to two years ago, we never used the garden. I couldn’t ask anyone for help because I don’t have anyone around me.”
Renata spent £30,000 transforming the garden (Image: Supplied) Finally in 2023, after many years of saving, the mother-of-three enlisted the help of a friend’s landscaping business to transform the garden – a project which included cutting back trees, building a new fence, levelling and laying down a patio.
She said the works cost her £30,000 – all out of her own pocket, with her forgoing holidays to save up the funds.
Halfway through the works, Renata said she was called by a Brighton and Hove City Council officer.
“She said ‘you have to stop the work and put it back to the original’. I said, ‘to what can I put it?’ – it was nothing before.
“She said you haven’t applied for authorisation.
“But no one from the council ever told me I would have to do that. The only words I ever heard from the council was directly and clearly saying ‘it is the tenant’s responsibility to fix their garden’ over and over again.”
Renata, whose first language is Polish, says she didn’t have a “clue” about applying for permission.
She claims that a council employee told her she could apply for retrospective permission – a claim the council has since denied, according to Renata.
She said: “Next, they said the fence was too high and then they said drainage wasn’t installed. Even though I have shown that drainage was installed, they say ‘our professional surveyor says there are no drains’.”
The council claimed Renata hadn’t installed drainage, but photos show the drains (Image: Supplied) Renata claimed the council has since threatened to evict her if the works are not reversed.
A council spokesman confirmed the matter had been referred to the courts and eviction would be a last resort.
Renata, who runs a small cleaning business, says the situation is “breaking my heart”.
“I can’t sleep at night, and I have never cried so much”, she said.
“It’s such a cruel way to treat me. The council should be happy to have tenants like me who try to improve their homes.
“We were living in a jungle for all those years, not able to enjoy the garden. Now, as I’m getting older, I’m finally happy and can finally relax and use my garden.
Renata Mohamed forwent holidays to save up for her £30,000 garden transformation (Image: Supplied) “My children couldn’t enjoy it, but at least my grandchild can.”
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We generally don’t go into detail relating to individuals, but can confirm this matter has been referred to the courts and that we consider the resident to be in breach of their tenancy agreement.
“Eviction is always a last resort. There are no current plans to proceed with eviction at this stage. We’re just keen to find a resolution to the issues created with the property.”