Martyn de Young, a 68-year-old grandfather from Larkfield, Kent, is paying nearly £1,000 a year for a garage he cannot use because it has been filled with fly-tipped rubbish. He discovered the space packed with waste in August last year and has spent 14 months trying to get it cleared.
Three tonnes of waste block access
De Young pays £960 a year for the garage, where he stored belongings for three decades. When he opened the door, he found it crammed with a sofa, builder's rubbish, laminate flooring and Wellington boots, weighing three tonnes in total. The mess prevented him from reaching his mobility scooter, which was trapped inside.
Contractors initially cleared the wrong garage and had to put the refuse back. Later, they removed one tonne from the correct garage but have not returned to clear the remaining two tonnes, citing damage to the door and lock.
Rent increased despite unusable space
By March, de Young found the garage boarded up without notice, which Clarion Housing explained was an anti-fly-tipping measure. CCTV that was promised was never installed. He estimates the situation has cost him around £1,200 in rent for a space he cannot use.
De Young, a retired IT consultant, said his rent has been increased during this period. He had to borrow a mobility scooter for several months ahead of a total hip replacement, as his own remained trapped in the garage.
Clarion responds with reimbursement pledge
A Clarion Housing spokesperson said they were “sorry for the inconvenience” and are working with de Young to resolve the issues. The spokesperson added: “We will also reimburse the rent he has paid for the period the garage has been unusable. The other affected garages at Raven Close were cleared and secured to prevent further fly-tipping, and we are exploring additional security measures for the site, including a controlled-access barrier.”
Staff have been in contact with de Young to arrange clearance of the remaining waste with him present, so he can identify his belongings. No one was arrested or charged in connection with the fly-tipping, which de Young believes occurred between July 1 and August 25, 2025.
