u/Dull-Aerie7553

Hi everyone, I live in a block of 4 flats and have recently come across a simple issue that has been very difficult to resolve, and became a massive headache for everyone at my address.

We originally had 2 general waste wheelie bins, and one went missing on collection day, a couple of weeks ago. As we are managed by a letting agency, I have let them know. They communicated to me that the landlord says it is our responsibility to store the bins securely, and because we haven't, they won't be replacing it.

I have tried to order the bin myself via the council, but as a tenant who lives in a flat, the online form tells me that I should contact the landlord/agent, as the bin is shared. I have submitted 4 general inquiries in 3 weeks to the council as the website prompts, not received a response.

We have had foxes and other animals rummaging through the rubbish, residents have started leaving bags of waste next to the bins, there is overflow and pests, it reeks. This has been reported to the council's environmental team via fly-tipping online forms as well because it spread onto the street repeatedly. No response. Council does not usually answer the phone, so this led nowhere as well.

I have sent photos of scattered rubbish to the letting agent, saying it's now a public health concern and urging them to do something. I have been told yet again I need to order the bin myself, and despite repeating multiple times I cannot, I was still told the landlord is refusing to do anything. I escalated this via the letting agency formal complaint procedure, which has prompted them to contact the landlord again. The landlord has agreed to reimburse me for the bin if I order it and agree to store them correctly next time - but we are back to square one, because there is no route for me to order a bin. Which is a bigger problem than how it should be stored or how much it costs.

The letting agent refuses to order it and tells me to order it myself when I tell them this. They told me they don't have an account with the council and are unable to do anything.

Does anyone know what I can do in this situation apart from look for another place to rent as soon as possible? I really can't just move out now, and this isn't going anywhere.

Hi everyone! Our general waste wheelie bin got lost/stolen a week ago, on waste collection day.

We had two general waste bins, two recycling, one glass and food waste bins for a block of four flats. There is no property management company, it is possible we all have the same landlord, but that is not confirmed.

I have reached out to our letting agent, but they said the landlord won't replace it because the tenants did not store bins securely and are hence responsible for the fact that the bin is gone. I have reported this to the council as well, attached the landlord's refusal email, but because this is a block of flats, we cannot order our own bin and pay for it. I have replied to the agent's email, citing that regardless of fault, something has to be done, but I was ignored.

We are probably about 8-10 people living at this address, four households, and predictably, the bin is full, and it has not even been a week yet. It will start to overflow very soon. I am not sure if our council will do anything about this, they don't have a good reputation for waste management or being responsive.

What is the next step available to me, legally speaking? Who else can I complain to, escalate to, involve in this to get this resolved?