To ask who is responsible for fixing this? (Rented accommodation)

[BaffledMum22]

Sorry, I have no idea where this post should go. Just looking for some advice.

Currently renting for the first time in 15 years. Have had the keys for 2 weeks. Landlord lived there for a year before we rented it. On entering the property all of the wheelie bins were at least 3/4 full (there are 5 bins) - some are overflowing. Fine, not ideal but I can deal with it. But then I’ve looked in the bins and they’re all full of things that shouldn’t be in them:

• Glass & Plastic bin is full of glass, plastic, old bedding, wood, half used toiletries & food (that’s just what I can see from opening the lid 😓)
• Garden waste - completely full of garden waste tied up in plastic bags
• cardboard bin - filled with cardboard, plastic and food waste

Council won’t lift them due to them containing things they shouldn’t.

Complained to letting agent who have contacted landlord but haven’t had a response. Letting agents reply is always the same “I know, it’s not ideal for you” 😬

AIBU to expect this to be sorted? Do I really have to empty out other peoples rubbish and resort all the bins when they’re full of half eaten food and spilled toiletries etc?! 😡

Organise a bully rubbish collection and take the cost of the rent. Let the letting agent know this is what you are doing if it's not sorted in the next 24 hours. They've had 2 weeks already.

Tell the agents they need to arrange for clearance this week. Tell them otherwise you will be calling environmental health and the private rent support teams of your local council as your landlord has left you without access to the facility to dispose of your rubbish.

Id probably out out the general waste bin when it's due and get that dealt with, and if you are certain the bags in the garden waste bin are garden waste I'd split them and tip into the bin. The rest I would leave.

@Sprucewillis

Organise a bully rubbish collection and take the cost of the rent. Let the letting agent know this is what you are doing if it's not sorted in the next 24 hours. They've had 2 weeks already.

See what I mean @chesirecat99

This is what I was trying to warn against!

Yes, I agree with your warning, @SamphirethePogoingStickerist. It's just that you quoted my post where I suggested she could ask the landlord if they would prefer for her to arrange it herself and deduct it from the rent.

Sorry about that. I must have still been astride my high horse!

I should add, I am an inventory clerk. I deal with similar day in, day out.

But I should have read your post more carefully.

No problem, @SamphirethePogoingStickerist! It wasn't the most succinctly written post.

I think you might have slightly changed your username but if you are the poster I think you are (from what you have said about being an inventory clerk), you always give excellent tenancy advice.

I have. I have been radicalised by both Lammy and JKR!

Gin is no longer the focus of my world

@SamphirethePogoingStickerist

Why is it an issue to negotiate with the letting agent. Surly that's what they are there for? In this case the landlord has let the property in an unfit state to rent. It should have been dealt with. The cost should be born by the landlord or they could deal with the rubbish - their choice. Or they could face a fine as noted below.

I've never had an issue dealing with letting agents to get property maintenance done. It's not an emotive issue it just needs clear and direct communication.

The notes below relate to waste left at the property. In this case the landlord is doubly culpable as the previous tenant. Good luck OP

According to the Environmental Act of 1990, landlords are responsible for the removal of waste in and around their property that are remnants of the last tenancy. If he fails to dispose of the waste, he can be prosecuted for violating the law. Fines and prison sentences can be penalties that result from negligence on the landlord’s part.
Here is a brief look at the responsibilities of a landlord when it comes to waste disposal:
· Advice tenants about removing and disposing of waste: One of the landlord’s responsibilities is to inform tenants about the importance of proper waste disposal. He should inform them about the facilities available for rubbish disposal that have been provided by the town or city council. Recycling needs to be encouraged as well. If the waste allowance has been exceeded, the tenants should hire the services of a waste collection company.
· Removal of building waste: When property maintenance or extension is carried out, it is the landlord’s responsibility to take care of the waste as per the regulations of the area. The waste that results from the construction, renovation, etc. should be removed by the landlord. Professional waste collectors should be hired to ensure that every waste item is properly removed and disposed.
· Removal of bulky waste: If the tenants have left without getting rid of bulky waste materials, the landlord needs to step in and do the needful. If not, he may be fined up to 2,500 pounds for leaving waste in yards or gardens. Illegal waste disposal on the street comes with a penalty of a fine of up to 50,000 pounds and the landlord could be sent to prison for a period of up to 5 years.

It’s pretty horrible, but tbh, I’d do it myself. I had to in the last place I bought, the vend had basically just shoved all the food from the cupboards in the various bins, it was horrific.

Because it is the bins @Sprucewillis, rather than a mound of nastiness, offal or excrement, building waste etc. Making a huge fuss about it this early in the tenancy could negatively impact a tenant further on down the line, Though as OP is renting whilst looking to buy that might not be the case here.

It is normal not to go in all guns blazing, standing on every single word of your rights, but to talk to the agents, that's what they get paid for, though they cannot do anything without the landlords express permission. And OP is still waiting for a better response from the landlord, I think. There are more steps she could take that wouldn't cost her anything but a few phone calls. It might be more prodiuctive to try them before starting in on the "I have rights" negotiating tactic.

Basically it's called being reasonable in the first instance.

I would of thought it was just one of those things tbh. Only moved into one place with empty bins. We left the bins fit to burst as we moved out. No way could I of not used my bins for a month to make sure they where empty. The bins are technically council property not part of the house.

@Sprucewillis

Organise a bully rubbish collection and take the cost of the rent. Let the letting agent know this is what you are doing if it's not sorted in the next 24 hours. They've had 2 weeks already.

Op cannot legally withhold rent. That would be a breach of contract and a quick route to eviction.

@Horst

I would of thought it was just one of those things tbh. Only moved into one place with empty bins. We left the bins fit to burst as we moved out. No way could I of not used my bins for a month to make sure they where empty. The bins are technically council property not part of the house.

Actually you will find that you are obliged to see into the future, to kow the date you have set for vacating the premises, and get rid of your rubbish ahead of time and/or arrange for the bins to be put out for collection after you have left.

I even have some student houses that mamage to do this, and they only have 9 months notice of their moving out date!

Well our old agent doesn’t bother with that they let their contractors fill the bins too and it’s up to the new tenant to put them out. They only leave a week tops between tenants anyway.

Only rubbish we left was within the council bins technically placed where they get collected from and we informed the council we had vacated so they could take back the extra/oversized bins.

@Horst

I would of thought it was just one of those things tbh. Only moved into one place with empty bins. We left the bins fit to burst as we moved out. No way could I of not used my bins for a month to make sure they where empty. The bins are technically council property not part of the house.

They're full of the wrong stuff so the council won't empty them, it's not as simple as that

This or any other maintenance issue should have no detrimental impact on the treatment of the tenant by the landlord.

Yet S21 still exists in England. And there are some real horror stories that many tenants wish to avoid. And I meet landlords who have some very, very odd views, are seemingly intent on infantilising their tenants.

Not that it's relevant in OPs case, but the fear of evictions, non renewal of tenancies is real!