Filthy communal bins in leaseholder flats - help!

Chuckbukowski

Hi all,

So my partner and I live in a leasehold flat we bought last year, which is one of 15 flats in our building.

There are communal bins feet away from our outside terrace area, which are fly-tipped constantly. People (not from our flats) fly-tip rubbish, rubbish from building sites, mattresses, chairs, furniture, even dirty nappies and chuck them next to the bins, turning the whole area into a stinking, unhygienic mess.

Huge objects being fly-tipped have also prevented the bins from being collected, leading to an even greater pile-up of bags and waste by the bins and in our drive-way (which is next to the bins).

Not surprisingly, the mess has been attracting rats and foxes - with a rat recently getting into our flat.

Clearly, there needs to be a bin store and probably a sign warning people not to fly-tip as a minimum.

We've complained numerous times to the managing agents, who kept on saying there was a planning application for a bin store. But having checked the council's planning website I can see that was a lie - there is no planning application.

To add insult to injury, they charge us, the leaseholders, every time it is badly fly-tipped as the council won't pick the rubbish up.

What rights do we have?

It's so frustrating.

Many thanks for any help in advance, Alex.

G_M

The solution lies with the freeholders/ their managing agents.

Get together with other leaseholders - multiple similar complaints (or one signed by multiple leaseholders) will carry far more weight than a single complaint,

Don't just complain - be constructive. Offer several suggestions for what you'd likedone (bin store, CCTV, signage, barriers to prevent cars baccking up to the area, whatever)

Yes, sadly it is the leaseholders who will bear the cost, but then again, as a house-owner, if I make any of the above changes to my property, I have to pay!

dlmcr

I used to have a similar situation. It was a complete disaster with no way of stopping it, the freeholder of the flats couldn't care less. It was private land so the council weren't interested. The other residents generally not fussed / bothered. Sofas, fridges, bags of rubbish, you name it, someone even lit a fire there once, 6 feet away from my front door, while I was at work. It was just ridiculous. In the end I sold up and moved (because of this and other issues). I agree that you will have to get together to with other residents to help resolve the issue. I don't know the excat layout of the area you are talking about but is it possible to install a lockable gate to prevent non residents entering? Other than that if it's causing you distress it may be worth cutting your losses and moving.

Norman_Castle

Chuckbukowski wrote: »

People (not from our flats) fly-tip rubbish,

Clearly, there needs to be a bin store and probably a sign warning people not to fly-tip as a minimum.


To add insult to injury, they charge us, the leaseholders, every time it is badly fly-tipped as the council won't pick the rubbish up.

They wouldn't admit it but its likely some of the rubbish is from your neighbours. Ask your council if the will provide"No flytipping" signs or make your own official looking signs. Can you fit real or dummy cctv. This might reduce the problem.

Ask your neigbours to help push for a bin store. Highlight to them they are paying for regular clean ups.

bouicca21

A neighbouring property solved the problem by putting up notices about cctv. I'm not even sure they had cctv, but the notices seem to have worked.