Details of unauthorised use of domestic bins by holiday lets
Received 7 May 2026
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding waste collection enforcement, specifically concerning short-term holiday lets. Please provide the following data, if held, for each financial year from 2022/23 to 2025/26 inclusive.
1.The number of properties which are registered for Business Rates as “Self-Catering Holiday Units” (or similar classification).
2.The number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) or formal warnings issued to owners of holiday lets or short-term rental properties for unauthorised use of domestic bins (i.e., using domestic waste collections for commercial business waste). If the data is not recorded by property type, please provide the total number of FPNs issued for unauthorised use of domestic bins for commercial waste generally.
3.The number of Section 34 (Duty of Care) notices or Section 47 notices issued to holiday let owners requesting proof of a commercial waste contract.
4.The number of reports or complaints received by the council regarding holiday lets/short-term rentals incorrectly using domestic bins in residential areas.
5.The total monetary value of fines collected from holiday let owners related to waste offences in the requested periods.
Responded 12 May 2026
1.
2022-2023: 45
2023-2024: 38
2024-2025: 41
2025-2026: 38
2. Zero
3. Zero
4. Complaints are not coded in this way and therefore we do not record complaints under ‘holiday lets / short-term rentals’. This information is therefore not held.
In respect of those requests that were answered in full or partially and the total refused please take this as notice under FOIA, that we:
a) Consider the information as exempt from disclosure under the Act;
b) Claim exempt under sections of the Act:
Section 12(4)(a) – Information Not Held
c) State why the exemption applies:
Regulation 12 (4) a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that (a) it does not hold that information when an applicant’s request is received.