Overflowing wheelie bins spewing rotting rubbish into the yard of a former student house caused a stink for residents.
Neighbours in Newsome Road, Newsome, were left with a waste mountain near their homes as temperatures hit 86F (30C) this week.
Students who had rented the back-to-back moved out at the end of June – but left all their waste behind them.
Residents reported the mess to lettings agent Martin and Co and the environmental health department at Kirklees Council.
But as the days went by the smell got worse and residents reported seeing rats.
Bus driver Gary Clay, who lives next door, said residents had contacted the agents and were told the house would be cleared at the end of June.
Nothing was done so neighbours complained to Kirklees Council.
Gary said: “There were three full bins of rubbish and it was spilling all over the place. The stench was awful and we have seen rats running around.
“I saw a rat run across our garden the other day.”
Gary said he had seen flies inside the house and added: “It looks like something is festering.”
Kirklees Council confirmed that complaints had been received and that they had been assured by the landlord it would be cleaned up.
A spokesman added: “If they fail to do so we will take appropriate action.”
After the hottest day of the year so far on Tuesday, the agents sent in a team to clean up the mess, much to the relief of residents.
Alex Barron, a director of Huddersfield-based Martin and Co, said the company managed 150 student properties and tenants were expected to remove rubbish when they left.
That hadn’t happened and a cleaning team had to be sent in.
A skip had been sent to the wrong address causing a delay in the clean up and Mr Barron added: “We understand the frustration of neighbours particularly in the hot weather.”
He said he believed more waste had been dumped after the tenants had left.
