Student landlords risk losing livelihoods if they fail to keep a handle on the shocking mess left by their tenants.

Mounds of "disgusting" waste littered Canterbury streets earlier this month, discarded by students as they packed their bags and headed home for the summer.

Fed-up with the litter problems blighting the city, council bosses have now written to letting agents threatening to take robust action if rubbish piles high again next term.

They have been warned that if they fail to take responsibility for the waste, they could be fined or even have their licences for houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) revoked.

The letters have been sent to all HMO landlords this week.

Cllr Ashley Clark, cabinet member for enforcement, said: “I am shocked and appalled by the pictures I have seen in recent weeks of rubbish left piled on the streets once students have gone back home.

“This selfish behaviour affects the quality of life of those living nearby and is quite frankly disgusting especially during the warm weather we have been experiencing.

“These are supposedly intelligent individuals - but sadly for some social responsibility appears not to be on their educational curriculum. I would have expected better.

“The council has tried to support both tenants and landlords at council taxpayers’ expense, removing huge volumes of contaminated waste for free.

“This cannot go on and we need all landlords to live up to their very clear responsibilities.

“We will come after those that wash their hands of the whole affair and are working with officers to find ways of forcing tenants and landlords to reimburse the cost of the clean-ups.”

Last month, rotten food, discarded sanitary products and even bags of vomit were strewn across High Street St Gregory’s, a narrow city road off Northgate resided in by students.

Pat Gorman, who has repeatedly called on the council to take action but to no avail, says the threat of punishment against landlords is a welcome move.

"My issue has always been that the council never seemed to want to use the sanctions," he said.

"There's never been any attempt to fine them, but now there is. So that's positive.

"What the students leave behind is a genuine health hazard. Young children have had to pick their way through rubbish day after day."

Letters sent this week to landlords detail how, as licence holders for a HMOs, they are required to supply appropriate bins and sacks at the start of each tenancy. They should also replace them where needed.

This includes blue, red and black-lidded bins, and two silver caddies for food waste.

The letter states: "Landlords are expected to take all reasonable steps to work with their tenants during the course of their tenancy and inspect the house once that tenancy ends.

"They should immediately remove any accumulated waste, including discarded belongings, from the premises.

"If that does not happen, they have been warned they could receive a fixed penalty notice or be prosecuted under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990."

Council leader Ben Fitter-Harding says he has also been left dismayed at the way waste has been disposed of outside of these HMOs this summer.

"For too long the council has tried to support both tenants and landlords at taxpayers' expense, removing huge volumes of contaminated waste for free," he said. "It cannot go on."

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk