neighbour's rubbish

[janoel]

Help.    Our neighbours have been away for a couple of weeks and all the bin bags (about 8 -presumably containing food left over from Christmas)  are piled up less than 3 feet from our front door.     The refuse collectors  will be here at about 7 am tomorrow morning but these bags will not be collected unless we move them and put them by their front gate ourselves.    How do we stand legally by moving these bags ?   Would it be considered stealing?    On the other hand these bags will probably encourage rats if left there much longer.   We have no idea when the neighbours will return.    Would be grateful for some advice - preferably this evening!    Many, many thanks

[spudqueen]

Do you get on with your neighbours? Round here we all put eachothers bins out when someone is away. Makes it so much easier. If you put the bags out and they seem grateful ask them to return the favour when you next go away.

[Scarlett]

Move the bags to the right place. They will be grateful of your help! You could always go and do them first thing tomorrow morning if you are worried about the neighbours returning in the meantime.

[Westminster]

Necessity knows no law. Assming you don't have to force an entry, just do it.

[janoel]

many thanks everyone

Will put the bags out.

[smudge]

I wouldn't hesitate in putting on some rubber gloves & moving the rubbish bags to where the refuse collectors collect them from. If your neighbour/s catch you in the act, just say you though you were helping them.

[undercovers]

YOU ARE HELPING THEM! stop thinking about it and take the rubbish out - your worrying far too much about this

[janoel]

Thanks Smudge and Undercovers for your wise answers.     I did this and the neighbour hasn't returned so it was a good thing - I only worried in case the bags contained things other than rubbish or in case I could be sued for moving what doesn't belong to me!

Bye