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5/12/25 4:43 pm
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Landlords could be fined if they fail to stop tenants continually putting rubbish in the wrong bin once new waste regulations take effect next year.
National waste reform programme - Simpler Recylcing - is rolling out across England on 31st March, designed to ensure every household has access to a consistent recycling service.
Local authorities must then provide separate collections for paper and card, plastic, metal and glass, food waste and residual general waste, so most homes will need four containers.
While many commercial properties already follow similar rules, HMOs can fall into a confusing space between business and household waste, says Mark Hall, property waste management expert at Business Waste (pictured), who believes many landlords and property managers are unsure how the new rules apply.
He says as HMOs generate higher waste volumes and more contamination risks than standard homes, it places greater responsibility on landlords to provide correct bins, clear instructions and facilitate safe waste handling.
Hall adds: “HMOs and larger rental properties with multiple tenants can fall into a grey area when it comes to waste. We’re aiming to simplify the new rules in good time, so landlords are not caught out. Failing to comply can lead to costly fines or even licence issues.”
Hall advises landlords to conduct an audit of tenant behaviour, to identify where contamination or excess volume occurs and communicate rules in writing in kitchens and communal areas.
He says tenants must sort waste correctly into the right containers, present bins for collection where required and avoid contamination and littering. Meanwhile, landlords and property managers must provide adequate bin capacity, arrange the correct types of containers, provide instructions in writing on how to separate waste, ensure suitable collection frequency and manage property waste storage so it doesn’t cause a nuisance.
If they fail to follow the rules and act on a compliance notice, issues can escalate to fixed penalty notices (typically £400) and a fine up to £5,000, while repeated waste breaches can risk licence removal.
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