A tenant is calling for “health hazard” fly-tipping on an estate to be “cleared for good”.

Deham House resident Richard Mitchell says he has been pleading with his landlord – housing association Moat – to tackle the rubbish outside his flat in Cavell Way, Sittingbourne, for eight months.

Mattresses, rubbish bags and cardboard boxes have all been dumped there, blocking access to a communal bin store which means that was overflowing too.

Swale council says the housing association is responsible for clearing the mess as it is on its land, and until that is done, contractors can’t get to the bin store to empty that.

Swale council said it understood the rubbish was cleared this morning but Richard said it was still there when he checked.

Moat apologised for “taking longer than usual” to collect the rubbish and said it’s working a long-term solution.

The mountain of rubbish has been like that since the start of September, according to Richard.

The 38-year-old says people have been fly-tipping in between the bins since he moved to Deham House in March and even when the rubbish is cleared there is more there within a “matter of days”.

The security adviser says Moat charges him £5,287.54 for rubbish clearance a year.

He added: “When I first started complaining, Moat came to clean but the rubbish quickly returned.

“I have complained to the council as well but they will not take it as it’s on private ground.

“It’s embarrassing when I have people over to my apartment to have that mess outside.

“It’s a disgrace and a health hazard.

“I am not asking for much, I just want it cleared for good.”

Another resident who lives near the flats said she was concerned after she saw pills in the piles of bin bags, which are also attracting rats.

She said that there were not enough bins for the number of people living in the three-storey block.

Swale council says until Moat deals with the fly-tipping, its contractors Biffa can’t empty the large communal bins for general waste and recycling.

A council spokesman said: “Sadly, some residents living in Cavell Way are not using the bin stores and bins as required.

“This results in waste blocking the stores, meaning Biffa are unable to access to empty the bins.

“Unfortunately, the recycling bins are also incorrectly used, meaning that the bins are not emptied due to contamination which causes an extra build-up of waste.

“Council officers work closely with the property owners and advice has been offered to the landlords and residents to resolve the situation.

“At the moment regular clearances are made to remove the fly-tipping and contamination at extra cost to the housing association.

“Measures have been suggested to the property owners to ensure the bins are used appropriately by the residents only, and that those causing the issue are challenged and shown how to recycle properly.”

Meanwhile, Colin Kavanagh, Head of Neighbourhood Services at Moat, said the housing association will continue to work with the council to “deter fly-tipping and make sure waste is disposed of responsibly”.

He added: “We usually collect fly-tipped waste promptly when it is reported to us, so we’re sorry for taking longer than usual with this collection.

“We’re working to find long-term solutions to the ongoing bin misuse. The actions of those who illegally dump waste around the bins are not fair to Mr Mitchell or our other customers who deserve to live in a clean, pleasant environment.”