To expect the bin men to empty overflowing bins?

It is illegal to rent a house at this level of multi occupancy. Imagine the conditions they are living in...at least 4 to a bedroom and probably all sharing the same bathroom.

But it’s your call

It will become a Environmental health problem if nothing is done...there are probably rats taking advantage already. The landlord is responsible for the behaviour of his tenants...report him, this is affecting you..that makes it your business...never mind who these people are.

Report. You will, hands down, get rats.

Ca you write to the landlord 1) telling him of the overcrowding and 2) suggesting that he prints out large labels to put on all the bins to inform the tenants what goes where. It sounds as though some of them are unfamiliar with recycling arrangements, and their English may not be all that good.

The landlord may not be aware of possible sub letting but who knows.
Elegran where would the OP find the address ?

I think you should report it to Environmental Health in writing then they will have to do something about it. I would politely say something about the bins being insufficient for the number of people in the house and suggest that perhaps someone could explain the system to them. Mention that you are worried about vermin.

The Land Registry will tell them the name of the landlord. The address given may well be that of the house next door, but a letter sent to his/her correct name at that address MAY be passed on to him by the tenants.

I tried Googling "How to find the name and address of a landlord" and found that most of the hits assumed that the inquirer was the tenant, and as such had a right to know and probably could find out via where the rent went. A few gave advice to neighbours, but it does seem as though the landlord could be a shadowy figure who surfaces only to get the rent and is anonymous to the neighbours - one way to avoid complaints!

It seems to be that there is a need for a register of landlords as well as of house-owners, with the current living address of all landlords. However, getting them all to register could be difficult! There is too much demand for housing for it to be a tenants' market or for the inconvenience to neighbours of anti-social tenants to make it worth all landlords being good ones.

Approach the occupants of the house and tell them the differences in the rubbish and to also squash down cardboard boxes so that it leaves room for more. Tell them it's not fair that you have to be met by their rubbish strewn all over the place, especially when it's windy.
If they appear polite the easier it is to have a word.

Nonnie That is a tactful way of informing the appropriate department without it being officially complaining.

Can you talk to the guys in the house? Explain your concerns and say you really don't want environmental health to get involved and apart from this issue they're excellent neighbours?
Most people want to do the right thing. I'd give them a chance before reporting to authorities.

I agree - have a word with the men and explain the problem.

You clearly have one of those landlords who doesn't believe in multi-occupancy guidelines and is exploiting the poor sods in there. I bet they don't have smoke alarms and are paying £200 pw for seriously substandard accommodation, but are illegal or working in the gig economy so just suck up what the landlord gives them because they can't afford city prices. I feel very sorry for them - but I'd be reporting to the council.

Oh talk to them they are clean pleasant polite and decent neighbours don’t grass them up they may end up living on the streets just explain how it works in a nice way and hope they respond

I would try talking to the occupants first to see if they will make an effort to improve the situation. If they are basically decent chaps they won't want to be causing, or to be in,trouble.

If no improvement after a 4-6 week period you have to take a next step.

To be fair yes it's unreasonable to expect the bin men to clear up the mess. It's the residents responsibility to make sure the rubbish is in the bin and the bin men's responsibility to empty that bin. So You need to speak to the people next door or environmental health and get it sorted. The thought of rats would make me sort it pretty damn quick.

The problem is partially caused by the binmen. When the bins start to overflow the binmen won't empty them. This makes the situation worse until we end up with a pile of rubbish that isn't picked up either.

Thr binmen are under orders to only empty bins that are not over-filled nor to pick up anything not in a bin. If landfill rubbish is mixed in with recycling stuff, then they face the whole lorryload being rejected by the firms accepting the recycling.

If these tenants (or subtenants, because the landlord may not be aware how many of them are in the house) are polite young men, they are likely to respond well to getting friendly information on how to use the confusing array of coloured bins outside their house.

I'll go against the grain - here in Wirral the binmen pick up overflowing bins and cardboard stacked neatly next to the recycling bins. They also work on bank holidays, it's marvellous - if they can do it, why can't others?
I would immediately report that unlicensed HMO - if it goes up in flames your house will go with it. It's completely illegal and not reporting it is condoning it as far as I'm concerned.

Our binmen just stipulate that everything that needs emptying is under the lid, even if the lid is raised up. My main complaint is that they don`t bring the bin back, they leave them all at the end of the alley where they park the dustcart, about 200 yards walk, not easy when you`re unsteady walking and there are potholes.

I wonder whether these tenants don't have English as a first language and therefore have no idea about recycling and rubbish being separate?

If you get on fairly well with these young men, can you talk to them and try to explain - even in pictures or drawings if their English is poor?

If you are sure their language skills are good, then it's up to the landlord to make sure rules are kept on the property, although it still might be worth having a kindly word to one of the tenants and pointing out the health hazards.

I would hesitate to grass to the Council, or make any nasty, hasty moves. As you say, there are worse neighbours.

When I lived in Bradford many years ago, we had a house opposite in which, it seemed, 20+ people lived in 3 bedrooms.
As it turned out, each room had 2 or 3 sets of bunk beds and when one lot of young chaps came off shift at the local mill, they got into the bunks, their fellows had just left.
They were a fairly quiet and polite lot and the house was well kept, although the sheets on the line outside looked a bit grey!

It’s not the overflowing bins that are the problem is it?
This level of multi occupancy is illegal and I suspect exploitative of the tenants.
Hard when thy are next door but I think I know what I would do.

Sorry, but I think I'd speak to the council.

The sort of landlord who is (probably illegally) overcrowding the property is precisely the sort who very likely isn't declaring his rental income to the taxman. If there are 12 of them, s/he is probably raking it in.

Far too many landlords get away with it, and not just the overcrowders. I heard recently of one telling another that she was mad to be declaring her rental income - 'We never have!'
They were both senior doctors.

I agree 100% with whoever said there should be compulsory registration of LLs - and I say that as a LL myself.

Stories like this tend not to end well.
We have had a few HMOs, in a nice part of town and two minutes walk from seafront, occupied by all males. The problem was they were not young, working males but ex convicts. The crime rate increased to unbelievable proportions in the area, we had two murders and then one of the occupants was found dead in the house. Landlord was forced to close premises but was shocked to learn the ban only lasted six months, it is probably up and running again.
You have the benefit of reasonable neighbours but it may not stay that way as the turnover is usually fairly frequent.
Not a pleasant job reporting someone but sometimes it has to be done.

I think you should call the council and complain. I remember a TV programme (Housing Enforcers?) where there was a very similar situation with a student house, overflowing bins and a lot of irritation caused to local residents. I remember from the programme that the council visited, offered some additional bins and gave the student a warning with a threat that they would be fined if they allowed the mess again.

Really binmen cannot risk injuring themselves trying to life overflowing bins, possibly with dangerous items balanced on top. Where I live we have one man bin collections where the driver never gets out of the truck so the bin must have its lid down to be lifted and tipped by the arms that come out from the lorry.

What have you done OP?