​​​​​​​City Council to target neglectful landlords as part of illegal dumping crackdown

The action comes after neglectful landlords continue to blight the city.

City Council to target neglectful landlords as part of illegal dumping crackdown

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has declared enforcement action against absent and neglectful private-rental landlords across the city.

The action comes after neglectful landlords continue to blight the city.

Landlords are reminded they are accountable for waste from their vacant properties, and the appropriate methods should be used to clear rubbish.

Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for environment and enforcement said: “We will not tolerate this any further. We know we have private-rental landlords across the city who have multiple properties, and allow them to just become a dumping ground. We also know that a lot of the landlords don’t live in the city. Action and accountability are needed and we will continue to fine neglectful landlords. There is no place for illegal dumping in our towns.”

A vacant property in Burslem was recently cleared after the owner left a considerable amount of illegally dumped waste outside their property.

The landlord has been issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice.

This comes as the city has pledged to clear a thousand grot spots across the city in the next 100 days and has sent a stark warning to people who illegally dump waste. In the first week of the zero-tolerance approach, 90 incidents were cleared, rubbish which filled the equivalent of 85 skips.

Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for environment and enforcement continued: “We promised to tackle the issue of illegal dumping and we have started this. Over the first week, we have issued 12 £400 fixed penalty notices and continue to investigate all reports of illegal dumping across the city. We will catch the culprits”