A landlord has paid a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice for fly tipping after admitting leaving waste in a Gateshead back lane.

The council received a complaint of fly tipping in the back lane and found around 12 black bags, which were traced to a nearby rented home.

The property’s landlord was interviewed under caution and admitted to leaving the waste, produced during the refurbishment of the property, in the lane. The landlord was issued a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice, which they subsequently paid.

Landlords have a legal obligation under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to responsibly dispose of all waste arising from lettings. This includes waste from improvements, repairs or alterations, as well as waste that is left after a tenant leaves a property.

A spokesperson for Gateshead council says: “The council has dedicated extra funding to improving the environment in our communities. 

“Fly-tipping is a crime that blights certain parts of Gateshead, and we are cracking down on those responsible by investing in more investigations like this one. 

“Landlords should have arrangements in place for the waste produced from their property, as fly-tipping it spoils the area for everyone else, and that isn’t acceptable.”