Experts are warning drivers that they could face car insurance issues and expensive costs as Birmingham's bin strikes exceed more than a month.
Birmingham City Council declared the situation a major incident last week after bin workers began indefinite strike action on 11 March, although walkouts have been taking place since January.
The controversial strikes in the West Midlands have entered an unprecedented fifth week, with the Health Secretary expressing serious concerns about the public health impact of the ongoing walkout.
Wes Streeting told Times Radio: "I certainly am concerned about the public health situation and the poor conditions we're seeing for people in Birmingham.
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Drivers could face car insurance chaos amid the ongoing Birmingham bin strikes
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"As the bin bags are piling up, we see rats and other vermin crawling around," he added.
Some locals have prompted concerns around "rats the size of cats" and further health issues from the growing piles of rubbish.
Birmingham City Council said on Tuesday morning: "All of our waste wagons have been deployed from our three depots citywide this morning."
The authority asked residents to leave their bins out as normal, promising to collect them "asap" whilst apologising for what it called "the current situation".
Talks between bin workers and the city council ended on Tuesday without an agreement being reached.
An expert is now warning that certain drivers could be left out of pocket when claiming for damage caused to their vehicles or property by the rodents.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "Not all car insurance policies will cover damage caused by rats. If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, this should cover the cost of repairs.
"However, you will have to pay your chosen excess if you make a claim for damage caused by pests, and your no-claims bonus will be affected.
"On the other hand, if you have third-party, fire and theft or third-party only car insurance, then you will not be covered by damage caused by rats."
She added that standard home insurance will not typically cover the cost of removal of rats or rice, nor repairs for damage caused by rats.
Despite this, home emergency cover, which is an optional add-on, could cover pest removal, but it will not apply to any rodent damage.
With the backlog of waste growing by 1,000 tonnes a week, neighbouring Lichfield District Council is due to start sending crews to help clear it.
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Birmingham Council has declared a major incident in response to the bin strikes
PADuring public questions at a council meeting on Tuesday, a resident in a rodent costume asked Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, when the rat population would decline and when streets would return to an "acceptable state".
Mahmood said he understood and sympathised with residents' frustrations, and that was why a major incident was declared.
