Sometimes things like loud noise, smoke, or bad smells can make it hard to enjoy being at home.
If this happens, we always suggest talking nicely to the person causing the problem first. Often, they don’t even know they’re bothering anyone, and once you tell them, they stop. Most people sort out problems with their neighbours just by having a friendly chat.
The council can step in if the problem becomes very serious. This is called a Statutory Nuisance, which is a special rule in the law. To count as a Statutory Nuisance, the problem has to happen a lot, last a long time, and be bad enough that it would bother the average person in their home.
Proving this can take a long time, and we need a lot of evidence. That’s why we can’t always take formal action, and why we encourage people to try solving problems by talking to each other first.
Noise
You can report recurring noise from residential or commercial properties here.
Smoke
You can report nuisance from residential or commercial bonfires here.
Odour
You can report odour nuisance from an industrial, trade or business premises here.
Light
You can report nuisance from artificial light entering your property or garden here.
Overgrown gardens and rats
You can report an infestation or rats entering your property from another site as a result of another’s activities here.
Waste and problem properties
You can report a complaint about a problem property here.
Water and drains
The responsibility for sewers and drains is split between Southern Water, East Sussex County County and ourselves. You can request advice or report a complaint about a cesspit or septic tank here.
Invasive weeds
You can report complaints about invasive weeds on council land here.
Dust
It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for industrial, trade or business premises to cause a statutory nuisance to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood by generating dust. You can report a complaint about dust here.