Waste responsibilities for private landlords

As a landlord renting out a domestic property, you must ensure that your tenants have the required waste and recycling facilities to manage their waste properly. You must also provide them with information on how to use the waste collection services correctly.  

Once your property becomes vacant

Once your tenant has reached the end of their tenancy and moves out, any waste left behind is no longer considered household waste, but commercial waste. This is chargeable. It is your responsibility as the landlord to remove any waste. It is therefore within your best interest to ensure your tenants are fully aware of the services available to them and are using them correctly throughout their tenancy.

You cannot take commercial or trade waste to any of the recycling centres 

Commercial or trade waste cannot be taken to any household waste recycling centre. These are strictly for household waste and recycling only. 

The best way to dispose of commercial waste is to hire a skip or visit a licensed waste disposal facility.  

As a landlord, you must provide your tenants with the following:

1. Appropriate and adequate facilities to store their rubbish and recycling. If you need to order new bins for the property, you can do this at Get a new bin or bags
2. Information on how they can obtain replacement bins should their bin be lost, stolen or damaged. They can do this at Get a new bin or bags
3. Information to ensure they know how to dispose of their rubbish and recycling correctly.
4. Information on bin collection dates.
5. If applicable, keys to alley gates so they can put out their bins for collection. You must also advise how they can get a duplicate alley gate key if this is lost.

If your tenants have moved out of the property, you must ensure that:

1. You arrange a waste clearance if there is an accumulation of waste within your property. If the waste is up to ten black bin bags of general rubbish, use the bulky waste removal form and choose the option to remove up to ten black bin bags in step three, under non-electrical items. If the waste is more than ten waste bags and might include other items, please complete the waste removal estimate form.
2. You arrange for any contaminated recycling bins to be emptied. (Where the wrong items have been put in the bins, the usual waste collection service can’t take them). You can arrange for up to four bins to be emptied by using the bulky waste removal form and choosing the option to empty up to four wheelie bins in step three, under non electrical items.
3. Any bulky waste items or other items of rubbish are disposed of correctly. Leaving waste within the property boundary, in alleyways or on the street is not acceptable. Waste dumped illegally in alleyways or on the street may result in a fine of up to £50,000 and the possibility of a prison sentence of up to five years. 

To get a quote for increasing the bins collection frequency or purchasing extra bins please e-mail businesswaste@salford.gov.uk