We'll look into complaints about smells from industrial, trade and business premises that could be a statutory nuisance, covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. For the smell to count as a statutory nuisance it must do one of the following:
- unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises
- be harmful to health
When a report is first made, we take the basic details of the problem. However, in most cases we cannot act on this information alone. We must investigate to collect evidence and build a case. We’ll contact you after you report a smell issue.
As part of our initial assessment, we’ll usually ask you to complete a smell log for several weeks and return it to us.
It’s important that you return the completed log. We use the information to plan visits to your premises and independently assess the smell you have reported.
If you do not return the log, we will close your case.
If we agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, we'll serve an abatement notice. This requires the person responsible to stop or restrict the smell.
If we serve a notice and the smell continues and is witnessed again by an officer, we may consider prosecuting the source. If this happens, the person(s) affected may have to give evidence in court about the smell.
Statutory nuisance laws do not apply to smells from residential properties.
Most new commercial developments in urban areas will have some associated smells that will be considered acceptable. These premises might include pubs, clubs, restaurants and takeaways.
Smells from waste water treatment works
It would usually be seen as reasonable to expect smells from waste water treatment works at times.
If you have a complaint about smells from waste water treatment works, you should contact United Utilities.
If you feel that your concern has not been dealt with by United Utilities, you can contact the Environmental Health Team. The team will independently assess reasonability and impact, considering a number of different factors.
Reporting a smell
You must only make a report if there's evidence of:
- an unreasonable, continuing and frequent smell issue at your premises.
- a longstanding, direct impact on the reasonable enjoyment of individual properties
You can report smells to the Environmental Health team by:
- phone: 0161 474 4181
- email: environmental.health@stockport.gov.uk
Please provide your name, address and contact details, along with a description of the smell you are experiencing and where you think it may be coming from.
We cannot accept anonymous reports.