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Rubbish

WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
in Problem solving
A neighbour is obviously doing a make over in his back garden with friendly helpers because there is no skip in the front garden which is now filled with several piles of paving stones, old rotting timber etc. My question is how long is this rubbish allowed to stay before I contact the council. I do not want to approach him as he is very short tempered. Neighbours are already having to kick bits of wood off the pavement into his garden as all gardens in the street are open plan.
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  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I’d wait a while longer if he’s bad tempered. Complaining to a neighbour who you already know to be awkward, very likely won’t result in an improvement in the mess anyway. Also, he might be a grudge-holder and then you’d be paying for complaining for years. It’s hard, but usually better to remain civil with each other if you can. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'd imagine that it can stay there until he decides what to do about it.
    It's his property on his land, so unless there's a health n safety issue when the council could get involved, I don't think there's anything you can do other than speak with him.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You could be cheeky and report it as fly tipping. You wouldn't have to use your real name etc, especially if you can use a different email address from the one you would normally use for council contact. 
    The only thing is - I have a suspicion people do that on purpose to save on paying for proper disposal. There's one about a mile away from me whom I suspect does that. 

    On the plus side - it would get rid of it and save everyone else having the problem of dealing with, and/or avoiding it    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    edited August 2023
    I don't think you can do much about it at all if the debris is on his land. I doubt very much that there is a time limit on how long it can remain situ unless he's applied for planning permission and a condition regarding disposal of rubbish was part of the permission. A quick search in your local planning portal would show if that was the case. 

    The fact that it's an eyesore does not make it illegal. 

    If it becomes a fire risk, or rats etc start nesting, or it is obstructing a footpath, or it is blocking sight lines at a junction, well then it becomes a hazard which is a different matter.

    Is it his property or is it rented? The landlord might be interested if it's the latter.

    Don't forget that length of rental / size of skip etc could affect how much he would pay for skip hire. So, (and I do realise I'm probably being a bit generous here) he might be waiting to see how much rubbish accumulates so he knows which skip to order, before he hires it in for the minimum rental time to save some pennies.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    On the whole I would agree with the above posts -  proper disposal of "rubbish" can be expensive.  So many people get caught out by someone offering to dispose of stuff at what seems to be a reasonable cost.......the result is often a contractor removing the rubbish from your property and then dumping it elsewhere aka Fly tipping but you are  paying for it.
    You mention neighbours having to "Kick wood off the pavement" and if that is a frequent occurrence/inconvenience, your local Council may take action.  As a complainant, your details will mot be made public or at least they shouldn't be  :)
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Thanks for the comments. Maybe I should open a book with the street taking bets on how long the rubbish stays there. There has been one large bag of rubble in his drive for a year now.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I would think it can stay there forever,  what you do on your own property is your own business.  Of course,  if it was rotting food and was attracting rats,  then it becomes a council concern. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Someone across the road fly tipped on the pavement outside their house. I reported it and the rubbish was removed in less than an hour. I had sort of hoped that there would be consequences but all that happened was they saved the price of a skip.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The trouble with small piles of tipped rubbish is that it encourages neredowells to add to the pile. It never ceases to amaze me, the efforts that some people go to in order to fly tip. Surely it's easier to pay the council a few quid to take away your mattress
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If they want to add an old mattress to the junk on their own drive,  they can,  so add anything you want when they’re out or in bed. 😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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