Licence to occupy

A licence to occupy is a 5-year agreement made between ourselves and residents or community groups.

The licence allows you to undertake certain works to Stevenage Borough Council land. You are not permitted to enclose the land or restrict public access.

There is no cost to the licence however you are required to take out an appropriate level of Public Liability insurance cover (level of indemnity a minimum of £2 million) for the duration of the licence, ensuring that a copy is sent to Stevenage Borough Council annually.

Your duties

The land is to be used only for the purpose of planting shrubs, bulbs and other herbaceous plants and shall be maintained in line with the licence to occupy agreement at all times.

Maintenance includes keeping shrub beds weed free and the grass cut regularly, please speak to us if you would like to change the layout of the land or design new planting schemes.

You don’t need to worry about any of the trees as these remain our responsibility.

Obtaining public liability insurance

We recognise that the cost of insurance can be a potential barrier and, as such, we have explored more cost effective options available to licence holders.

Public Liability Insurance Policy

If you do not already hold insurance through your organisation/community group, a suitable policy for individuals can be obtained via an insurance comparison website. When completing an application, you may describe your activity as “garden maintenance (excluding tree felling)” and state an annual income of £0. Typical costs range from approximately £80 to £100, depending on the provider.

Home and Contents Insurance

Public liability cover may also be available through your existing home and contents insurance policy. Please note that written confirmation from your insurer will be required to confirm that the public liability element of the policy specifically covers the land included within your Licence to Occupy. Any additional charges are generally minimal.