A homeowner who moved into a new property says their dream has been ruined by an unbearable smell from next door. After clearing overhanging trees from their neighbour's neglected garden, they now face a stench from piles of dog excrement on the neighbour's patio.
The resident posted on Reddit under the username @M_C_XIX, explaining that the mess is so severe that "you'd think a horse made them" and the smell is so bad they "can't use [their own] garden anymore because of it." They added: "There's so much of it that I can smell it from inside when the door is open. They must not have a sense of smell. How you can live like that is beyond me!"
Legal avenues for nuisance smells
In the UK, a persistent odour affecting your home can be reported as a potential "statutory nuisance" under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This is typically done via the local council's environmental health team. While dog-fouling fines usually apply only to public places, issues on private land can still be investigated if the smell drifts into neighbouring homes.
If there are concerns about the dog's welfare, the RSPCA can be contacted to assess the animal. Where the property is rented (privately, council, or housing association), landlords or housing teams can intervene using tenancy rules or anti-social behaviour policies to force the tenant to clean up.
Checking property ownership
If the neighbour's property details are unknown, ownership can be checked via the UK Land Registry for a small fee. Commenters on the Reddit post urged the homeowner to take action rather than tolerate the situation, especially if it attracts flies or creates hygiene issues.
