Daily Mail Features Housing Director Manjinder Atwal on Neighbour Bin Dispute (28 May 2026)

Manjinder Kaur Atwal, Director of Housing and Property Litigation at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, has again been featured in the Daily Mail’s This is Money section, continuing to provide readers with practical and accessible legal guidance on housing and neighbour disputes.

Responding to a reader query concerning a neighbour who kept and began using a large double wheelie bin mistakenly left outside their property, Manjinder explained the legal position surrounding council-issued bins and the potential consequences where disputes escalate.

In the article, Manjinder advised that household bins generally remain the property of the local council, despite being allocated to individual addresses for use. She explained that a neighbour cannot simply “adopt” a bin that has been delivered to the wrong property, particularly where it is clearly associated with another household.

Manjinder further noted that while disputes over wheelie bins are unlikely to become criminal matters, councils are often able to identify bins through serial numbers or delivery records and may intervene where necessary. She also highlighted that repeated refusals to return property or abusive conduct linked to such disputes could potentially amount to anti-social behaviour.

Her comments also drew attention to the financial implications for households, as many councils now charge residents for replacement bins, particularly larger recycling or garden waste containers.

The feature is the latest in a series of appearances by Manjinder in the Daily Mail, where she has become a regular contributor on housing and property-related issues, providing insightful and actionable legal advice to readers on everyday disputes affecting homeowners and tenants across the UK.

Read the full article here: Can my neighbour legally keep a double bin left by mistake?

About Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an award-winning, Times Top 250 law firm, ranked Top Tier by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. The firm advises clients across more than 25 areas of law, with a nationally recognised Housing team at the forefront of tenant rights and housing litigation.