Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 80

Offensive odours and smells also contribute to the level of air pollution in our local communities. They may be harmful to our health and affect the use and enjoyment of property.

Industrial/AgriculturalSmells from industrial and agricultural activities are common causes of complaints to local councils. Councils investigate all complaints and can treat the smell as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA).It is often difficult to determine whether a smell constitutes a statutory nuisance. That depends on intensity, frequency, whether it is injurious to health and whether it lingers long enough to affect the reasonable enjoyment of property.Domestic SmellsYou can also contact your local council if you are bothered by a smell from a neighbour's house or garden. Domestic smells are not normally treated as statutory nuisances, but the source of the smell may be covered by other laws or regulations. For example, under other parts of the EPA 1990, a local authority can take action where an accumulation of waste gives rise to odours that constitute a statutory nuisance. Local authorities can also use public health laws to deal with smells coming from filthy or vermin-infested premises.