Home and household

Moving house: who owns the bins and how to set up collections

By Steve K · Updated 4 October 2026

Bins are easy to forget when you move, until collection day arrives. Here is what to do at both ends.

Leaving your old home

• Leave the bins. Wheelie bins and caddies usually belong to the council and stay with the house. Most have the address or a serial number on them.
• Empty them. Time your last full clear-out before the final collection, so the new owners do not inherit your rubbish.
• Cancel or transfer garden waste. Garden waste subscriptions are often tied to the address. Some councils let you transfer to your new home if it is in the same area.
• Book bulky waste early. Collections can be booked up for a week or more. See our bulky waste guide.

Arriving at your new home

1. Find your council. Use the postcode lookup with your new postcode.
2. Check your bin day. Search your new address on the council’s bin day checker.
3. Count the bins. Check you have every bin and caddy the council provides. If any are missing or broken, report it.
4. Recycle the boxes. Flatten cardboard and spread it over several collections, or take a big load to the tip.
5. Set reminders. Add your new days to a bin calendar.

New-build homes

New addresses can take a while to be added to collection rounds. Contact the council’s waste team as soon as you have your postcode and address. Many councils charge for the first set of bins in new developments.

Renting

In a rented home, bins usually belong to the council, not the landlord. The tenant is normally responsible for putting them out and keeping them clean. Houses in multiple occupation may have extra rules.

Which bin? Quick answers

• Cardboard boxes

Find your council