Landlords and Agent Advice on Recycling
Are you a landlord or an estate agent? Have you given any thought to waste management for your property/properties? If you haven’t, you should. Waste Management blunders can result in nightmare situations for your tenants, their neighbours and ultimately your rental income. Recycling, when done right, can help to eliminate these problems. Below you’ll find some advice on how to get it right with recycling as a landlord or letting agent.
1. Provide the Resources for Recycling and Waste Disposal
Landlords and estate agents are expected to provide the appropriate space for waste disposal and recycling. This includes ensuring that there is a sufficient amount of external (and ideally internal) rubbish bins for the property. This also includes ensuring that damaged or malfunctioning receptacles are replaced when necessary.
2. Establish Recycling Protocols for Your Property
It is a good idea to create a guide (protocols) that tenants can follow when it comes to waste disposal. Naturally, these protocols should be in keeping with the standards established for the local area and community. These protocols should instruct tenants to use the recycling bins correctly and sorting the relevant recycling items as recommended by the local council. The instructions should also include the location where bins are to be placed for collection.
When it comes to collecting commercial waste, this is something that needs to be pre-arranged, this can be done either by a waste management company or contact your local council to supply a trade waste collection service.
3. Communicate Clearly
Whenever a new tenant is being taken on, it is important to start on the right foot with all matters, including waste disposal. Ensure that your new tenants’ initial ‘briefing’ includes information about the recycling practices that must be followed by all occupants. Ensure that they know how and where to find recycling bins and that they are aware of the garbage collection schedule. Ideally, this information should be provided in writing so that accountability can be ensured.
Waste disposal and management is a serious matter for landlords, letting agents and tenants. When tenants adhere to the disposal recycling guidelines, health hazards are avoided and harmonious relations can be maintained in the community. On the other hand, property owners whose properties breach waste disposal regulations may find themselves in legal trouble. If for instance, waste is left in and around the property after the tenants have vacated and a rubbish removal service is needed, it is legally considered commercial waste (not domestic waste) and must be disposed of by the property owner. Otherwise the property owner is liable to a fine of as much as £50, 000.
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