We are moving out of our rental property before the next scheduled bin collection. Our landlady has asked us to take all remaining waste from the bins to the tip before the tenancy ends.
The bins contain normal household/garden waste generated during our tenancy, and the next council collection is scheduled shortly after we leave (the garden waste collection is on 25 August). We have no issue making sure the property is clean and that we don’t leave rubbish outside the bins, but we’re unsure whether we’re actually required to empty the bins ourselves and transport the waste to the tip simply because the collection date falls after our tenancy ends.
There is also a request for the outside of the bins to be cleaned, despite them only having normal dirt from use. We cannot currently clean them with a hose due to the hosepipe ban.
Is it reasonable for the landlord to require us to take the bin contents to the tip, rather than leaving the bins for their next scheduled council collection?
@Thomas66
If rubbish can be put in bins and wont attract rats, just ask neighbours to put bins out/back for you or pop back night before bin day and do it?
This isnt hard. Your rubbish. Your responsibility to get disposed of at end of tenancy
Good luck
Best
Hi David, thanks for your reply. I haven’t had to empty these bins in any of my other tenancies, but I’m happy to empty the outdoor wheelie bins if that’s normal etiquette.
But being asked to clean the inside of the wheelie bins feels unreasonable? They do appear to have been cleaned before we lived in the property, but with a hosepipe ban currently in place we’d probably need to pay someone to come round and clean them professionally.
There has always been a long standing expectation that the property is returned to the same level of cleanliness as when you first moved in, minus wear and tear. There is usually a clause in each tenancy agreement that refers to this and there may also be an inventory that documents the original condition. However, in my opinion the landlord is being totally unreasonable. As a tenant you have the right to use the bins provided. I assume you have paid your council tax which pays for refuse collection as well as other services the council provides. As long as you haven’t left them overflowing, or in condition in which the refuse collectors may refuse to empty them. I would take time stamped photos of how you left the bins, as evidence just in case she tries to make an issue of it and makes a claim against your deposit.
Best!
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Thanks Christopher, if this was an isolated incident I’d have been more willing to have someone clean the bins but throughout our tenancy we’ve been told we need to complete tasks far beyond the terms of our contract so I’m alway weary when we’re given another job which “needs” completing.
Appreciate your response and glad to hear we’re on the same page. I’ll empty the bin which aren’t being collected until after our contract ends, and leave the household waste bins out for collection. I’ll rinse the bins with a kettle and some washing up liquid but cleaning them to high standard is absurd. Cheers 
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So, which is it? Inside or outside?
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You dont have to empty or clean the bins and Ive never heard of any landlord asking that previously.
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Hi Tatemono, we’ve been asked to empty and clean (both inside and out) the garden, household and recycling wheelie bins
are the insides and outsides pictured and/or detailed on the inventory? If not, no need to bother.
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My thoughts exactly. If the bins were not captured on the inventory, no need to bother.
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