Renfrewshire Council

The Environmental Improvements Team investigates a wide variety of complaints which are dealt with through the statutory nuisance provisions under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Statutory nuisances are defined as:

• premises in such a state
• smoke emitted from premises
• fumes or gases emitted from premises
• any dust, steam, smell or other effluvia arising on industrial, trade or business premises
• any accumulation or deposit
• any water covering land or land covered with water which is in such a state
• any animal kept in such place or manner
• any insects emanating from premises
• artificial light emitted from premises or any stationary object
• noise emitted from premises
• noise emitted from or caused by a vehicle, machinery or equipment in a street or road.

A statutory nuisance is defined as any of the above categories that, in the opinion of the local authority officer, is prejudicial to health or a nuisance having regard to the frequency, the duration and the severity of the event.

When a complaint is received by our Environmental Improvements Team, this will be investigated by our Officers.

Where our investigations determine that a statutory nuisance exists, we are under a duty to serve an abatement notice on the persons responsible for the nuisance. Failure to comply with the notice is an offence which can be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

We will always attempt to resolve any issues informally but sometimes we do require to take formal action.

Fixed penalties

There is provision for us to issue fixed penalty notices, where we consider this appropriate, as an alternative to reporting the offender to the Procurator Fiscal. The fixed penalty charge is £150 for domestic situations and rises to £400 where the offence occurs on industrial, trade or business premises.

The use of fixed penalty notices would generally be considered as appropriate to deal with simple nuisances, such as accumulations of household waste or water damage to property from leaking pipes.

If you think you are affected by issues that may be a statutory nuisance, please contact us.

Reporting a nuisance

Residents can report a nuisance smell by calling 0300 300 0380 or emailing the Environmental Improvements Team.

Other charges

Please refer to our Fees and Charges page for other charges related to default repairs and nuisance abatement work.