Hertsmere Borough Council has served Section 46 notices on four HMOs in Potters Bar after complaints about waste management, warning landlords that fixed penalties can follow if conditions do not improve.
The council said the notices require landlords to put proper storage and disposal arrangements in place, including making sure enough bins are provided, tenants understand collection arrangements and rubbish does not build up outside properties.
For landlords, the action matters because it shows councils are willing to use everyday environmental powers – not just licensing rules – to intervene where HMOs create visible neighbourhood problems. That widens compliance risk for owners who treat waste as a tenant issue rather than a management issue.
Potters Bar HMOs face formal waste action
Hertsmere said the notices were issued after concerns were reported about waste handling at four HMOs in Potters Bar. Under Section 46, landlords can be required to make proper arrangements for household waste storage and disposal, and formal action can follow if they fail to comply.
A council spokesperson said most landlords manage their properties responsibly, but added that the authority would work with landlords and tenants to secure improvements and use its available powers where needed.
While the action covers only four properties, the timing is important. Councils across England are under pressure to show they are taking a firmer line on private rented sector standards, and lower-level problems such as overflowing bins and street waste are often easier to enforce than more technical housing breaches.
Why landlords should not dismiss waste complaints
For HMO landlords, waste problems can quickly spill into wider regulatory trouble. Complaints about bins and external rubbish can draw attention to occupancy levels, management standards, fire safety arrangements and whether a property is being run in line with licence conditions.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s coverage of Westminster’s 31 August HMO licensing deadline, which highlighted the broader push toward closer council scrutiny of shared housing. Hertsmere’s latest move shows that enforcement pressure is not limited to licensing fees and paperwork – it can start with the condition of the street outside the property.
There is also a practical warning here for landlords who rely heavily on tenants to manage waste without checks. In shared houses, responsibility can blur quickly, especially at changeover points or in properties with limited storage. Councils tend to look first at the person controlling or managing the property, not at who left the bag beside the bins.
The council’s notice makes clear that landlords may need to provide enough bins, explain the collection setup and take steps to stop rubbish building up outside. Full details are on Hertsmere Borough Council’s announcement.
What this means for landlords
- If you run HMOs: check bin capacity, collection days and storage areas before a complaint reaches the council.
- At tenant changeovers: inspect outside areas as well as the inside of the property, because rubbish can build up fast between occupancies.
- Watch for: councils using environmental and street-scene powers alongside licensing enforcement.
- Keep records: written waste instructions and inspection notes can help if the council asks what management steps were taken.
- Bottom line: poor waste control can become an enforcement issue even before a council looks at wider HMO compliance.
Editor’s view
Bin complaints can sound minor until they become the start of a wider enforcement trail. For HMO landlords, this is a reminder that basic management standards still matter, and councils know that visible mess is often the easiest point of entry.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 30 June 2026
Sources: Hertsmere Borough Council
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