Students and landlords urged not to leave a mess this changeover weekend

As many student tenancies end this month in Leeds, the council is working closely with the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Arts University, Leeds Trinity University and Unipol to support students, landlords, and their agents to help keep noise and discarded waste to a minimum.

Council staff and teams of student ambassadors from Leeds Beckett and University of Leeds have already knocked on thousands of doors in the area, engaging in conversations about being considerate of local communities and delivering flyers detailing ways students can sell, donate and dispose of unwanted items.

In addition to minimising noise, students and landlords can help by disposing of waste properly and recycling or donating items to charities where possible, ensuring nothing is left out on the street or at the side of their bins.

The University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett are supporting events throughout June for students to sell and swap their unwanted possessions. To keep food waste to a minimum, a local drop off point at the Hyde Park Picture House for unopened items has been set up, with donations being distributed to Leeds food banks.

Fifteen additional streetside donation banks have been provided by British Heart Foundation and local charity partner Revive to help make it easier to donate unwanted items. Collections by Revive will be stocked at a free community shop at Rainbow Junktion, supporting Leeds families who need it.

Alongside additional refuse collections and street cleaning resources throughout the period, specialist environmental officers will also be targeting fly tipping of house contents onto residential streets and bin ‘tatting’ (where people scavenge from bins/bags, often leaving a mess behind).

Landlords and agents have also been reminded of their responsibility to properly dispose of waste from their properties and to only use licensed third-party waste carriers. Working closely with Unipol to support accredited landlords and managing agents to relay the importance of them and their tenants keeping waste to a minimum and encouraging opportunities to reuse and recycle. Unipol and the Leeds Property Association have also sponsored two waste carrier vehicles to help in the clean-up in the busiest student areas on 1st and 2nd July 2024. The council is supporting accredited landlords with free disposal of household waste. Enforcement action will be taken if necessary to ensure compliance.

Speaking ahead of the changeover weekend, Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, and Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said:

“Leeds’ universities and their students are an important part of our community and make a massive contribution to our economy and culture. However, we recognise that in some areas where there is a high population of students there can be issues with anti-social behaviour.

“We always work hard alongside the universities to encourage students to feel part of the local community and to show consideration for other residents. No one should have to tolerate anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood and like every year, we will make every effort along with our partners to tackle this throughout the changeover period. We want to assure residents that any issues will be dealt with quickly.”

A spokesperson from Leeds Beckett Student’s Union said:

“Moving out can be a stressful time, but to help make it as smooth as possible we’re calling on all students to make sure they sell, swap or use the clothing banks for stuff they don’t need. Check out the Unipol.org/movingout2024 website for swap events and places to donate your unwanted food. Importantly, avoid a fine by keeping all your rubbish in your wheelie bin not left on the street!”

All the advice and guidance has been brought together at https://www.unipol.org.uk/MovingOut2024