Letters are being sent out by the Council saying that disabled and elderly tenants who get help in maintaining the gardens at their properties will have to pay in future.
Apparently a secret decision has been taken by the Conservative Councillor, who heads the housing department, that the free scheme must end next year.
It is the latest in a series of decisions targeting Council tenants in York. Two months ago the same Councillor endorsed a strategy which could see hundreds of Council houses demolished.