£300 fine warning issued to households that use their chimney

Households across England are being warned of potential £300 fines if they use their chimneys this winter. While many homes built before the 1990s feature a chimney, most have not been used for years or even decades, with many fireplaces blocked and inaccessible.

However, millions nationwide still utilise their fireplaces for heating during the colder months, using traditional fuels like coal or wood burners fitted into the chimney. Regrettably, if your chimney starts emitting smoke, you could be reported to the local council and fined due to regulations around Smoke Control Areas.

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These areas have specific rules about the amount of smoke that can be emitted from your chimney. Most of England now falls under these Smoke Control Areas, and residents could face a £300 fine if their chimney produces excessive smoke.

Persistent offenders may even face criminal charges. Section 19 of the Clean Air Act 1993 stipulates a £300 penalty for excessive chimney smoke, reports the Express.

As Direct Stoves explains: "The current limit on the amount of smoke your chimney can produce in a Smoke Control Area is 5g per hour, plus 0.5g for each kW of your stove's heat output."

They added: "However, there are plans to reduce this limit to 3g per hour, although when this will happen is not yet confirmed."

"These rules mean that only some people with a wood-burning stove or open fire will pay a fine for using it. Most modern wood burners available are DEFRA-approved, so many stove owners do not need to worry."

"If you want to upgrade an older wood burner that emits a lot of smoke or are considering installing a wood burner in your home for the first time, get an appliance that DEFRA has approved for use in Smoke Control Areas. A wood burner with this seal of approval is designed and tested to operate within the restrictions."