Forum Topic

Renting & Recycling Question

Chatting with a neighbour who rents from a private landlord we were discussing his very overgrown garden. According to their landlord the tenant has to keep the garden in the state he found it but it was very overgrown when the chap moved in.Very few garden tools were provided but the guy tidied the garden only to discover the others sharing the property were dumping rubbish in the garden!My question is, what provision should be made for people renting to ensure they are able to keep the garden in a tidy state. No-one explained about garden refuse collection or even who is in charge of the council!Perhaps when landlords shirk their responsibility their tenants do likewise. Maybe they should have details of recycling, collection days and so on available, perhaps on a notice board to enable tenants to discover how to get rid of rubbish.This may be the reason so many rented properties seem neglected.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4331d9 Comments

I think that you should ask the Council if this is a registered HMO.I think that the landlord should have provided bins and info.  You may be able to get a Recycling Officer to visit. And I think you have found another reason why the garden waste collection is a bad idea.

Philippa Bond ● 4329d

Unfortunately LBE STILL does not provide info in an easy to download format to laminate and stick on a notice board (eg the Green Box Recycling Info should be designed to fit on one page.  LBH does.Have a look at this LBH guide (Don't forget that what is acceptable for them is not necessarily the same as in LBE)http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/your_guide_to_recycling_jun11.pdf

Philippa Bond ● 4330d

I agree, surely it would be much better for landlords to provide all the relevant local information to prospective tenants at the start, that way the chances are that the place would at least be tidy and rubbish free? If one tenant is not keeping theiir part of the tenancy agreement then the landlord could take action to ensure that other residents in the HMO property do not have to put up with a filthy neighbour.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4330d

I think that landlords and estate/letting agents should provide bins and should also provide the information regarding recycling and waste collection to new tenants.  They should take more responsibility at the start.  They can't make the tenant recycle but there is often a clause like the bit I quoted in a post above.Providing everything at the beginning would help to start everything off on the right foot.It is very stressful moving and it is good to find the info waiting for you.  I have in the past printed off and laminated sheets with info for teenagers/young people so that the info was there for them to pick up on any new system.  I guess something like this might have been what happened in the past when you welcomed new neighbours - when people didn't move around as much as they do now.  You'd have had a natter over the fence or a cup of tea.If the garden was tidier then the other residents would probably not have dared to dump stuff there!  It is a vicious cycle.

Philippa Bond ● 4330d

I guess my neighbour just lost the will to keep the (rear) garden tidy when others in the property decided to dump rubbish there.It is probably true that people move in and out of rented property so they don't really feel part of the neighbourhood, and of course the landlord is happy just as long as the rent is up to date.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4330d

I suppose the pink biodegradable ones were less attractive.When you lost your green bags I lost my white plastics bag.  I wonder if they find bags in the back of the lorry when they arrive to be emptied.  I've been reminded that I did once see a bag flung in the back of the lorry and didn't see it being retrieved - but that was a long time ago.

Philippa Bond ● 4330d

We've lost three green garden waste bags after the recyclying collections recently.  The bags are clearly marked with our house number and none of our near neighbours have them - most irritating, we'll have to order(buy) more from Council.

Gerry Tan ● 4330d

Is it a house in multiple occupancy - there is a definition for those in Ealing here:http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/100007/housing/393/houses_in_multiple_occupationwhich should be managed and where tenants must store and dispose of rubbish in accordance with the arrangementsmade for the occupiers

Philippa Bond ● 4330d

You'd have to be really not bothered if you don't know or can't find out when bin day is.But that is one of the problems with the high cost of property, you end up with a transient neighbourhood, people move in for a year or so, then move on.  They won't care and nor will the landlord, provided (s)he gets the rent money and can find replacement tenants when the time arrives.Who the leader of the local council is will be the last thing on any renters mind.

Debbie Edwards ● 4331d