Refuse guidance for landlords

An alternate week collection system for bins and recycling is in place in this district. Where a property is on black bag collection, this is collected weekly. Check a property's collection day.

Bins are allocated to all properties (including HMOs) based on the number of occupants. To encourage recycling, we do not usually agree to issuing more domestic refuse bins than we deem appropriate for the household. Landlords can opt to arrange their own commercial waste collection.

New tenants may not know about the collection arrangements in a new town. Giving tenants information about refuse collection early on will help reduce complaints and will insure your tenants do not inadvertently cause problems for their neighbours.

There is a charge for replacement bins and you may wish to include them on your inventory and/or discuss who is responsible for replacement costs with your tenant.

Landlord's responsibilities 

As a landlord you are responsible for the properties you own. This includes your tenants refuse and recycling disposal. This means you must make sure that:

  • The property has the correct number of bins for the people living there.
  • There is sufficient space within the boundary of the property to store bins to hold recycling and refuse separately for two weeks.
  • Your tenants use the refuse and recycling collections properly.
  • Your tenants do not allow rubbish to accumulate in the garden. If there is an accumulation of waste on the property due to tenants not using collections properly, we will require you as the landlord to arrange for removal of the refuse.

Collections 

  • Tenants must place their wheelie bins on the edge of their property on collection day by 7am and brought back within the boundary the same day.
  • Bins must not be stored on the public highway/pavement.
  • No additional bags or side waste will be taken during the normal bin collection.
  • Green bins containing domestic refuse will not be emptied.
  • Bins not put out for collection will not be emptied until the next collection and are likely to cause odour issues, attract pests and cause nuisance to neighbours.

New tenants

Whenever you take on new tenants we recommend you advise them about:

  • Collection day and frequency (weekly, fortnightly etc.)
  • Where bins should be moved to and when
  • Number of bins at the property and what to put in them - this information is on our website and can be printed to give to your tenants
  • If the property is a HMO it is advisable to identify a responsible person in the property or suggest a rota system

Contact us

  • Pest issues and accumulations - Environmental Protection - 01926 456741
  • General enquiries - Contract Services - 01926 456128
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation - Private Sector Housing Team - 01926 456358