RESIDENTS living in areas with a high number of student lets have complained about the amount of rubbish left behind as many return home for the summer.

Streets in areas including Heslington Road and The Groves and Hull Road have been left with an increased amount of rubbish left in the street as many students move out of their homes, residents in the areas have said.

It is understood council street cleaning teams have already visited a number of streets.

Mike Blacker, of Wolsley Street, off Heslington Road, said vast amounts of rubbish had been left by students in streets in his area including large items such as a fridge freezer and a stereo.

He said: “It happens every year. Students go home in the summer, but we live here all year long. You have to consider what the council workers have to put up with.”

A resident in Barbican Road said: “It is student leaving time and once again the passages behind our local properties are strewn with the usual litter. A great deal of the rubbish was out out on Saturday and was neat and tidily enclosed in the black bin liners. However people or pests have rifled through them and left the contents well and truly strewn.

“I believe it’s time the Government strarted charging landlords, who must make a fortune from said lets, an annual fee for removing and clearing up the debris.”

However, a spokeswoman for York St John University said many efforts had been made to ensure students kept residential areas tidy.

She said: “In the run-up to students moving out of their accommodation at the end of term in May, a number of initiatives were organised by York St John Students’ Union to encourage the recycling and responsible disposal of unwanted belongings, including a jumble sale, a Freecycle event where unwanted items were collected and then taken to a “free shop” at Park Grove School and also a campaign targeting students, against littering and fly-tipping. This campaign was one of the many initiatives that helped York St John Students’ Union to win a Gold Award recently in the NUS Green Impact Scheme Awards.

“Over the last few years, York St John University and the Students’ Union have worked very hard to develop an excellent relationship with the local community and we continue to work closely with community representatives, landlords and the Students’ Union to maintain this relationship.”

A University of York spokesperson said: “The university has limited jurisdiction over students living off campus. Responsibility for ensuring rubbish is disposed of appropriately lies with landlords and their tenants. We encourage our students who live in the community to behave responsibly and to be good neighbours at all times.”

Liz Levett, City of York Council’s head of environmental enforcement said: “We are working in an ongoing partnership with the city’s universities, student unions and landlords to address this issue.

“Whenever dumped waste is spotted, if people could call the council on 01904 551550, report it via the Smarter York phone app or via york.gov.uk, we will deal with it accordingly.”