Your recent coverage on fly-tipping and the live issues facing property companies and landowners help raise awareness.
Of course, everyone involved should do their best to report anything suspicious, use CCTV and look at increased security as well as measures such as perimeter fencing, hoarding and concrete bollards. While these precautions will certainly help reduce the risk, they will not eradicate the problem.
I am aware of quite an interesting situation whereby premises had been ‘legitimately’ rented only for the tenant to use the premises to dump large quantities of refuse that the so-called ‘tenant’ had collected for a fee. The tenant then vacated the premises leaving the building filled from floor to ceiling with literally tons of waste.
Aside from being costly to remove the refuse, the refuse could contain all manner of substances, for example asbestos, and that is where the costs can quickly escalate especially when the owner is faced with contamination issues on top of a now-vacant property.
Owners may wish to review their insurance policy wording to ensure there is appropriate cover for fly-tipping so that any necessary and reasonable costs incurred in clearing and removing any property illegally deposited in or around the premises, or deposited as a result of unauthorised or illegal occupation, is covered and, where appropriate, ask their brokers and insurers for advice to minimise risk.
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