Brits could face £300 fine for heating their home this Autumn

Brits are being warned that they could face a £300 home if they sit in front of a roaring fire this Autumn - depending on where they live. 

The fine could be issued to anyone living in the UK if they have a chimney in their property due to a new rule relating to Smoke Control Areas.

The regulations dictate how much smoke can be emitted from your chimney - with the majority of England now covered by Smoke Control areas. 

This means that, if you live in one, you can be fined £300 if your chimney produces too much smoke - while persistent offenders could face criminal charges. 

Section 19 of the Clean Air Act 1993 says you must pay £300 if too much smoke is being released from your chimney.

Heating experts Direct Stoves said: '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. 

'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.'

If you are going to use a chimney, it needs to be in perfect working condition if you're going to enjoy cosy, safe family nights in around the fire.

A chimney can far too easily develop issues, such as being blocked - something that can lead to serious problems such as draught problems and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Matthew Harwood, of Confused.com home insurance, recommends having your chimney cleaned and inspected before lighting the season's first fire.

Harwood also suggests using a screen to catch any sparks, to prevent them from flying into the room.

Glen Peskett, of tool company Saxton Blades, agrees, saying: 'Blocked chimneys can pose a significant risk to homeowners, as they can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, and structural damage.

'Regular chimney inspections and cleaning can help prevent blockages and ensure your chimney functions safely and efficiently.

'If you suspect your chimney might be blocked or if you experience any issues while using your fireplace, call in a professional to avoid potential dangers.'

Checking a chimney and making sure that it is clean can be done in several ways, including by a professional chimney sweep.

Full list of smoke control areas in the UK

Allerdale, North West

Amber Valley, East Midlands

Ashfield, East Midlands

Barking and Dagenham, Greater London

Barnet, Greater London

Barnsley, Yorkshire and Humberside

Bassetlaw, East Midlands

Bath and North East Somerset, South West

Bedford, Bedfordshire

Bexley, Greater London

Birmingham, West Midlands

Blackburn with Darwen, North West

Bolsover, East Midlands

Bolton, North West

King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East of England

Bradford, Yorkshire and Humberside

Brentwood, East of England

Brighton and Hove, South East

Bristol, City of South West

Bromley, Greater London

Broxbourne, East of England

Broxtowe, East Midlands

Burnley, North West

Bury, North West

Calderdale, Yorkshire and Humberside

Cambridge, East of England

Camden, Greater London

Cannock, Chase West Midlands

Canterbury, South East

Carlisle, North West

Cheltenham, South West

Cheshire West and Chester, North West

Chesterfield, East Midlands

Chorley, North West

Copeland, North West

North Northamptonshire, East Midlands

City of London, Greater London

Coventry, West Midlands

Craven, Yorkshire and Humberside

Croydon, Greater London

Dacorum, East of England

Darlington, North East

Derby, East Midlands

Doncaster, Yorkshire and Humberside

Dudley, West Midlands

County Durham, North East

Ealing, Greater London

Erewash, East Midlands

Cheshire East, North West

East Staffordshire, West Midlands

Elmbridge, South East

Enfield, Greater London

Epping Forest, East of England

Gedling, East Midlands

Gloucester, South West

Gravesham, South East

Greenwich, Greater London

Guildford, South East

Hackney, Greater London

Halton, North West

Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London

Haringey, Greater London

Harrogate, Yorkshire and Humberside

Harrow, Greater London

Hartlepool, North East

Havering, Greater London

Hertsmere, East of England

High Peak, East Midlands

Hillingdon, Greater London

Hinckley and Bosworth, East Midlands

Hounslow, Greater London

Hyndburn, North West

Islington, Greater London

Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London

Kingston upon Hull, City of Yorkshire and Humberside

Kingston upon Thames, Greater London

Kirklees, Yorkshire and Humberside

Knowsley, North West

Lambet,h Greater London

Lancaster, North West

Leeds, Yorkshire and Humberside

Lewisham, Greater London

Lichfield, West Midlands

Lincoln, East Midlands

Liverpool, North West

Luton, Befordshire

Manchester, North West

Mansfield, East Midlands

Medway, South East

Merton, Greater London

Middlesbrough, North East

Milton Keynes, South East

Newark and Sherwood, East Midlands

Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands

Newcastle upon Tyne, North East

North East Derbyshire, East Midlands

North Hertfordshire, East of England

North Kesteven, East Midlands

North Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Humberside

North Tyneside, North East

North Warwickshire, West Midlands

West Northamptonshire, East Midlands

Northumberland, North East

Broadland, East of England

Nottingham, East Midlands

Nuneaton and Bedworth, West Midlands

Oldham, North West

Oxford, South East

Pendle Borough Council, North West

Peterborough, East of England

Portsmouth, South East

Preston, North West

Reading, South East

Redbridge, Greater London

Redcar and Cleveland, North East

Ribble, Valley North West

Richmond upon Thames, Greater London

Rossendale, North West

Windsor and Maidenhead, South East

Rugby, West Midlands

Rushcliffe, East Midlands

Sandwell, West Midlands

Sefton, North West

Selby, Yorkshire and Humberside

Sevenoaks, South East

Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humberside

Shropshire, West Midlands

Solihull, West Midlands

South Derbyshire, East Midlands

South Gloucestershire, South West

South Kesteven, East Midlands

South Ribble, North West

South Staffordshire, West Midlands

South Tyneside, North East

Southampton, South East

Southwark, Greater London

Spelthorne, South East

St. Helens, North West

Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands

Stevenage, East of England

Stockport, North West

Stockton-on-Tees, North East

Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands

Sutton, Greater London

Tamworth, West Midlands

Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands

Thurrock, East of England

Tower Hamlets, Greater London

Trafford, North West

Wakefield, Yorkshire and Humberside

Walsall, West Midlands

Waltham Forest, Greater London

Wandsworth, Greater London

Warrington, North West

Warwick, West Midlands

Watford, East of England

West Lancashire, North West

West Lindsey, East of England

Westminster, Greater London

Wigan, North West

Wirral, North West

Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Worcester, West Midlands

York, Yorkshire and Humberside

Exeter, South West

Slough, South East

Basildon, East of England

Salford, North West

Buckinghamshire, South East

Crawley, South East

Slough, South East

Blaby, East Midlands

Brent, Greater London

Rotherham, Yorkshire and Humberside

South Oxfordshire, South East

Gateshead, North East

Leicester, East Midlands

Rochdale, North West

Tameside, North West

Sunderland, North East

Dartford, Greater London