Unmown grass verges, leaves all over the footpath, weeds around the bin store and, come January, the question of who is actually going to grit: anyone who owns a block of flats or manages several properties soon finds themselves coordinating five different contractors. Gala Bau Kurt brings the care of your outdoor areas together into one contract – for property managers (Hausverwaltungen), homeowners' associations (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft, WEG), landlords and commercial clients in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Meerbusch, Cologne and throughout North Rhine-Westphalia.
As a specialist firm for garden and landscape construction (Garten- und Landschaftsbau) we approach property care from the outside in: green spaces, paths, courtyards and parking bays are maintained, cleaned and inspected to a fixed rota – cleared and gritted through the winter. You receive a written schedule of works (Leistungsverzeichnis) for each property, a record of every visit and an invoice that can be passed on cleanly through the service charges.
What our property and grounds maintenance covers
You put the package together property by property – from a straightforward green space contract to full grounds care including winter service.
-
Green space and grounds care
Mowing lawns, hedge trimming and shrub care, weeding planted strips, clearing leaves – to a maintenance plan with fixed intervals.
-
Cleaning paths, courtyards and driveways
Sweeping, removing weeds from the paving joints, picking up litter, keeping channels and gullies clear.
-
Winter service
Clearing and gritting to the local by-law, including standby, grit and a written record of every call-out.
-
Bin store and wheelie bin service
Putting the bins out for collection day and bringing them back, cleaning the standing area, removing fly-tipped waste.
-
Inspection rounds & safety checks
Visual checks of paths, steps, handrails, fences, outdoor lighting and trees, with a short written report.
-
Small repairs outdoors
Re-laying loose paving setts, straightening fence panels, adjusting garden gates, refixing bollards and signage.
-
Tree and shrub care on site
Keeping the clearance above paths and parking bays free, removing deadwood – and felling with the required permission if needed.
-
Seasonal extras
A deep clean in spring, a leaf-clearing round in autumn, paving cleaning, planting up tubs and entrance areas.
Grounds maintenance with landscaping expertise: how we work
A caretaker service stands or falls by its maintenance plan (Pflegeplan). For every property we set out which area is treated when and how – following the upkeep standard DIN 18919: lawns every one to two weeks in season, hedges once or twice a year, beds monthly, leaves at short intervals through October and November. Hard cutbacks are scheduled outside the closed season from 1 March to 30 September (Federal Nature Conservation Act, § 39 Bundesnaturschutzgesetz).
On hard surfaces such as paths, courtyards and parking bays, chemical weedkillers are prohibited under § 12 of the Plant Protection Act (Pflanzenschutzgesetz) – we take weeds out of the paving joints mechanically with a joint brush or thermally. In winter we grit mainly with abrasive material, chippings or granulate; salt only where the by-law permits it, for example in freezing rain or on steps. Every call-out is logged with the date, time, area and material used. Because we work with trees, paving and drainage every day on our building sites, our inspection rounds pick up sunken slabs, blocked yard gullies or deadwood in a crown long before they turn into a liability claim – you get a report with a photo and a proposal.
Contract, schedule of works and recoverable service charges
The basis is a written schedule of works (Leistungsverzeichnis) for each property: areas in square metres, hedges in linear metres, the frequency of every task, a plan of the winter service areas, keys and named contacts. From that we calculate a monthly flat fee; tree felling or repairs are quoted separately in advance, and annual contracts with automatic renewal are the norm.
Important for landlords and property managers: garden maintenance (§ 2 no. 10 BetrKV), street cleaning including winter service (§ 2 no. 8 BetrKV) and caretaker services (§ 2 no. 14 BetrKV) count as recoverable operating costs under the German Operating Costs Ordinance (Betriebskostenverordnung, BetrKV), while repair work does not – which is why we invoice repairs separately. We also show labour and materials separately, so that tenants and flat owners can claim their share of these household-related services under the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG): 20 % of the labour costs, up to €4,000 per year and household.
Grounds maintenance in Wuppertal, Düsseldorf, Cologne & NRW
In the Bergisches Land – Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal – a great many housing developments sit on sloping ground with steps, retaining walls and shaded paths. With 1,000 to 1,200 mm of rainfall a year, moss and algae take hold quickly, leaves collect in the channels, and on the ridges between 200 and 350 m there are noticeably more frost and snow days than down on the Rhine. Slip-resistant cleaning, clear gullies and a dependable winter service are the heart of the job here.
In Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and Cologne we more often look after courtyards in Gründerzeit quarters, housing developments with areas of lawn and commercial sites with large parking areas; the winters are milder, but new planting and tubs need watering through a dry summer. Before any felling we check the local tree protection by-law (Baumschutzsatzung): Düsseldorf and Cologne generally protect trees from a trunk circumference of 80 cm, Wuppertal from 100 cm, and in Meerbusch a notification requirement has applied since 2020. From the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis we reach Wuppertal in 15–25 minutes, Düsseldorf in 45–60 and Cologne in 50–70 minutes; where you have several properties in one city, we combine them into a single round.
The duty to clear and grit in NRW: what owners need to know
Cities in NRW pass the duty to clear and grit the pavement (Räum- und Streupflicht) on to the adjoining owner through their street cleaning by-law (Straßenreinigungssatzung) – on working days usually from 7 am to 8 pm, on Sundays and public holidays from 8 or 9 am; the exact times and the permitted grit are set by each individual by-law. Owners may transfer the duty to a specialist firm by contract, but the duty to choose that firm carefully and to supervise it stays with them. That is precisely why we log every call-out and send you the records monthly on request.
How grounds maintenance works with us
- 01
Property inspection
We walk the green spaces, paths, bin store, winter service areas and trees, measure everything up and sort out keys and the water supply.
- 02
Schedule of works & quote
You receive a quote with a flat fee per property and month, the frequency of each task and optional winter service – for several properties as well.
- 03
Start & initial overhaul
At the start we bring the property up to standard: deep clean, cutting back, paving joints, channels. The agreed rhythm begins after that.
- 04
Ongoing care & reporting
Fixed dates, a written record of every visit, damage reports with photos and an annual review of the maintenance plan.
What does a caretaker service or grounds maintenance cost?
The price depends on the size of the areas, the frequency and the modules you choose. As a rough guide, here are typical figures including VAT:
| Scope of work | Costs & Prices |
|---|---|
| Basic grounds care, block of flats (green space care + cleaning) | approx. €180–360 per month |
| Green space maintenance per property (lawn, hedges, beds) | approx. €95–360 per month |
| Winter service standby (November–March) | approx. €25–50 per month |
| Winter service per call-out | approx. €1.20–4.20 per m² |
| Winter service seasonal flat fee (by area) | approx. €250–2,500 per season |
| Small repairs & extra work | approx. €45–70 per hour |
Non-binding guide prices including 19 % VAT. We set the flat fee for your property after the free on-site visit; where several properties lie in the same city, we cost them as one round.
All figures are non-binding guide prices incl. VAT. The final price depends on area, access, materials and effort. You will receive a binding fixed-price quote after a free on-site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a caretaker service for a block of flats cost?
For green space care and cleaning on a fortnightly rota, the guide figures are around €180–360 per month including VAT; winter service is added on top, either as standby plus call-outs or as a seasonal flat fee. The size of the areas, the hedges and the rhythm are what decide it – after the free on-site visit we give you a fixed monthly price.
Can the cost of grounds maintenance be passed on to the tenants?
Yes. Garden maintenance, street cleaning including winter service and caretaker services are recoverable under § 2 of the Operating Costs Ordinance (Betriebskostenverordnung, BetrKV), provided the tenancy agreement says so. Repairs may not be passed on – we invoice them separately. Tenants can also claim their share of the labour costs against tax under § 35a EStG.
Do you take over the duty to clear and grit in full?
We take on clearing and gritting by contract for the hours set out in the relevant street cleaning by-law (Straßenreinigungssatzung), including standby and grit. A duty to supervise remains with the owner – which is why you receive an unbroken set of call-out records that serve as evidence should a claim ever be made.
How does your caretaker service differ from a traditional caretaker?
Our focus is the outdoor area: green spaces, paths, courtyards, fences, trees and winter service – to the standard of a specialist landscaping firm and with the right machinery for it. Electrical, heating and plumbing work inside the building is not included; we are happy to put you in touch with the right trades for that.
How often do you come to the property?
The maintenance plan sets that out: lawns every one to two weeks from April to October, cleaning weekly or fortnightly, hedges once or twice a year, an inspection round monthly and leaf clearance as needed in autumn. Through the winter we are on standby and turn out whenever there is snow or ice.
How quickly can you take a property on?
We normally reply within 24 hours, usually visit the property within one to two weeks and often start at the beginning of the following month. It makes sense to sign winter service contracts by October, so that the area plan, the grit and the standby rota are in place before the first frost.