The council’s head of environmental services addressed residents’ concerns over littering, fly tipping and messy front gardens at a meeting on Tuesday.

Russell Ward told the area seven committee about the council’s powers to crack down on lax landlords who do not maintain their properties at the meeting at Christchurch Primary School, in Wellesley Road, Ilford.

One member of the public said parts of the Cathedral Estate, in Ilford, were littered with mattresses, furniture and rubbish from rented homes.

He said the Landlord and Managing Agent and Environmental Scheme had been set up to encourage more responsibility.

Mr Ward added: “The uptake has been a little bit disappointing but it is spreading by word of mouth and we will be cold calling agents and landlords to tell them about it.”

The council also sends letters to homeowners ordering them to clear any untidy front gardens within 28 days or face court action.

In response to suggestions that free collections of bulky items may encourage residents to clear rubbish faster, Mr Ward revealed that the council pays around £10million a year in landfill tax for more than 100,000 tonnes of waste.

He said the council was also aiming to improve rubbish disposal outside multiple occupancy houses and flats above shops.