The Chief Executive of the NRLA has heavy criticised a local council after it threatened local landlords with fines of up to £400 if their tenants fly-tipped rubbish outside their homes.

Sefton Council has made the announcement, saying that it considers landlords to be one of the ‘culprits’ behind an ongoing fly-tipping problem within the borough.

Peter Harvey, the council’s Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Street Cleaning, added that: “I have said before – fly-tipping is selfish, anti-social, potentially hazardous, and illegal.

“We will not tolerate it in Sefton, and we will come after culprits, and this includes landlords not meeting their requirements to their tenants and to the Borough.

“Many landlords are required under their licences to provide support to tenants. This may include external storage areas for rubbish, wheelie bins or, in some areas, refuse sacks, as well as ensuring tenants are aware of when collections take place.”

But Ben Beadle, (main image) Chief Executive of the NRLA, says he strongly disagrees with the implied accusation within the comments by Harvey that landlords should be responsible for ensuring their tenants dispose of their rubbish responsibly, and fined if they don’t.

Selfish behaviour

Beadle has taken to social media to add that: “I’ve no issue with a local authorities properly tackling fly tipping.

“I see it in the magistrates court routinely, and frankly this sort of selfish behaviour should attract the proverbial book being thrown at the perpetrators.

“But I am incredulous that a landlord is responsible for the tenants’ rubbish – making a further mockery of overreaching licensing regimes.

I cannot control what my tenants do – they are responsible for their own actions and should face the consequences like everyone else.”

“Sure, provide appropriate bins [and other measures] but other than that we are all responsible for our own behaviour.

“I cannot control what my tenants do – they are responsible for their own actions and should face the consequences like everyone else.

“Why a landlord should carry the can is beyond me – other than it being an easy source of revenue once again, for overzealous local authority workers. Here’s a novel ideal. Why not issue fines for non-compliant renters who directly cause said fly tipping?”.