Ealing Council is launching a major campaign to highlight how rubbish and bulky waste should be disposed of correctly in shared housing, HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) and flats.

By raising awareness of the law for both tenants and landlords, the council aims to curb the rubbish and household items ending up on the borough’s streets as unsightly and illegal fly-tips.

To mark the start of the campaign, the council is hosting a ‘Know Your Waste Responsibilities’ event at Ealing Town Hall on Monday 6 August which will provide advice and info on waste management in HMOs.

Residents, tenants, landlords, estate agents, letting agents and housing associations across the borough are invited to attend and find out information about their legal responsibilities around waste, and how they can help the council crack down on illegal disposal and fly-tipping.

There are a numbers of rules in place to ensure that waste items, bulky appliances and rubbish are got rid of correctly.

Landlords of flats, HMOs and privately rented properties are required by law to provide facilities for waste storage for tenants to dispose of household waste. They also must take responsibility for waste items left by departed tenants and dispose of them responsibly.

Similarly, landlords using builders and cleaners to undertake work on their behalf have responsibility to ensure that this is disposed of properly.

Rubbish and recycling is collected as part of the council’s alternate weekly collection service. Bulky items such as furniture, mattresses and old appliances are not collected in this way.  Therefore the council supports landlords and residents living in HMOs by offering a special bulky waste collection service for these larger items.

It’s never acceptable to leave waste items or bags of rubbish on the street or in a public area. The council’s specialist enforcement teams crack down on fly-tipping by investigating and fining perpetrators.

Landlords and tenants of HMOs are both urged to know their responsibilities and ensure they avoid large fines and even prosecutions by disposing of rubbish properly.

Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways said: “Landlords and tenants in flats and shared housing have an important role to play in ensuring that waste items, old furniture and appliances, and other rubbish is disposed of properly.

“Fly-tipping is a real problem nationally and we will not hesitate to find and fine those who dump rubbish on our streets. The council is offering support and guidance to landlords and tenants of HMOs so they can stay on the right side of the law and contribute to a cleaner borough for all.”

• The launch event will take place from 12-7pm on Monday 6 August, in Committee Room 1 in Ealing Town Hall, Uxbridge Road
• The council’s bulky waste collection service can be used by both tenants and landlords, with eight items too big for a normal rubbish collection. Collections cost £40 for up to eight items and £35 per fridge or freezer which need to be listed on a separate booking form.
  For more information please visit  www.ealing.gov.uk/bulkyitems
• Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/recycling for info on recycling and collections.