Welcome to the Q&A section of my blog. Today I am discussing what to do if your neighbour’s bins are against your fence which are smelly and disturbing your enjoyment of your garden.
Question…
I live in a terrace house and generally, everyone down my road keeps their wheelie bins in the back garden. The issue I have is that my neighbour’s bins are against my fence.
The section of fence where my neighbours store their bins against my fence is next to our garden table. When we are relaxing or eating in the garden, there is a horrible smell from the bins that put us off eating or sitting outside.
The smell is worse in the summer when it’s hot and I have noticed there are a lot of flies that are coming from the bins.
I can see from our bedroom window that my neighbour not only has his bin against my fence but piles up rubbish bags on the ground, that are pushed up against my fence.
I am worried that because my neighbour is leaving bin bags on the floor, it will eventually attract rats and mice. I am also concerned that the wet bin bags on the floor could damage my fence.
I want to enjoy my garden without the smell of rubbish and worry of pests.
How should I approach this situation? Can I ask my neighbour to move his bin off my fence, to a different part of the garden? Who can I contact about this issue?
Answer…
Living in a terrace house can have its ups and downs. On the one hand, you have the convenience of living close to your neighbours and sharing a sense of community. On the other hand, you may have to deal with issues such as noise pollution, shared walls, and, in some cases, unsightly or unpleasant smells from your neighbour’s bins, as you are experiencing.
If you’re facing the issue of your neighbour’s bins against your fence and don’t know what to do, don’t worry – in this article, I will go over some tips on how to deal with a smelly bin situation.
STEP 1: Communication #Neighbours Bins Against My Fence
First things first: it’s important to approach the issue with a calm and friendly attitude. Your neighbour may not even be aware that their bin is causing a problem, so it’s always best to start by having a chat with them.
You should explain that you’ve noticed a smell coming from the bins when you’re in your garden and it’s making it difficult to enjoy your time outside.
Your neighbour may be willing to move their bin to another area, or they may be open to finding a compromise that works for both of you.
Even if your neighbour refuses to move the bins, they may agree to make sure the bins are not overfilled so the lid can close which should stop the smell.
Hopefully, once your neighbour is aware of the problem, they will move their bins. However, I appreciate that not all neighbours are that understanding.
STEP 2: Follow up Letter #Neighbours Bins Against My Fence
If the conversation with your neighbour doesn’t lead to a satisfactory resolution, the next step is to follow up your concerns with a letter.
In the letter you should detail the issues the bins are causing and that you can’t enjoy your garden in the summer. You should explain that if you can’t resolve the issue amicably, you will have no option but to contact environmental health.
You should give your neighbour a timeframe to move the bins, for example within 7 days and confirm that you will be contacting environmental health if they are still there.
Keep a copy of the letter for your records.
STEP 3: Contact Environmental Health #Neighbours Bins Against My Fence
If your neighbour’s bins are still against your fence and smelly, contact your local council’s environmental health department. They are responsible for investigating and enforcing laws relating to waste management, including the storage of bins, disposal of waste and smell pollution.
If your neighbour’s rubbish bags do attract rats and mice, then you will also be able to ask the environmental health department to investigate this.
It is most likely that after you have made the complaint, the council will ask for a log detailing when the smell is happening, the duration and the intensity.
Under UK law, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets out the requirements for the proper storage and disposal of waste. This includes keeping waste in suitable containers, ensuring containers are not overfilled, and disposing of waste in a way that does not cause pollution or harm to health.
If your neighbour is leaving bin bags on the ground or otherwise failing to meet these requirements, they may be in breach. The council has the power to take enforcement action if necessary, which could include issuing a fine or even taking legal action against your neighbour.
I have various articles that should be helpful for your circumstances:
- When to Contact Environmental Health Department
- How to Make A Complaint About a Neighbour to the Council
- Wheelie Bin Issues with Neighbours
- What to do If Neighbours are Using Your Bin
- Gathering Evidence for a Neighbour Dispute
STEP 4: Mask the Smell #Neighbours Bins Against My Fence
In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to reduce the impact of the smelly bins on your enjoyment of your garden.
One option is to use some kind of barrier between your garden and the bins. For example, you could try installing a trellis or a screen of plants to block the view and reduce the smell. This may not be successful if the smell is severe.
Another option is to use a scent diffuser, citronella candle or some other kind of air freshener on your garden table to mask the smell. I know this isn’t ideal!!!
Yankee Candle does a citronella candle that might help cover the smell short term, which can be brought on Amazon.
While this won’t solve the underlying issue, it may help you to tolerate the situation until the council has investigated the issue and a more permanent solution can be found.
Final Thoughts
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you have the right to enjoy your property without being negatively affected by your neighbour’s waste. If your neighbours bins continue to be against your fence and the situation continues to be a problem, don’t be afraid to escalate the issue to the council.
Your neighbour has a right to store their bins in their garden, just like you do but the waste disposal rules have to be followed to avoid neighbourly issues.
You deserve to be able to relax and enjoy your garden, and with the right approach, you should be able to find a solution that works for everyone involved.
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