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Residents complain of rats, smell due to overflowing trash

Residents says rats have made their home in a Mattapan neighborhood because of one apartment building's overflowing trash bins.

BOSTON — The multi-unit apartment complex on Cummins Highway still has full trash bins after the landlord came and collected the excessive trash Thursday. In it, trash bags, a mattress and general house trash.

Neighbors told FOX25 that the trash hadn't been picked up for a month, but the landlord says otherwise.

Patrick Hamilton with Alliance Realty Management in Jamaica Plain said that the trash had only not been picked up for one week, it was because the city refused to empty the dumpster. He said that contractors dumped construction material in the building's dumpsters.

There is a city rule prohibiting residential pick up of construction materials, but trash disposal remains the landlord's responsibility.

"A lot of people have trash in the building. They have families living in there. So there is a lot of trash in the building so we are taking care of it," said Hamilton.

The residents said that the trash isn't the only thing that stinks. Residents said cracks in the steps allow rodents attracted to the trash to make their way into the building.

Boston Inspectional Services Division said that not only does the apartment building have an open code violation for the overflowing trash bins, but it also has 14 code violations that are unresolved, dating back to 2009.

FOX25 asked Hamilton about the violations and his response was "not sure about that."

Neighbors said the smell from the trash is a concern going into the holiday weekend, but the property management group said they have hired someone to get the rest of the trash overnight Thursday into Friday.