Households with log burners face fines of £300 and a criminal record if they break serious rules in place governing what you can use in them.
Ecology experts are urging homeowners to be wary of their log burner for heating, with fines of £300 and a criminal record possibly being handed out to households who unknowingly break strict regulations in place.
Ecology survey firm Arbtech says an estimated 1.5M British homes have log burners, even though the government banned the sale of house coal and wet wood in 2021.
Under the current laws, smoke emissions allowed was reduced from 5g an hour to 3g an hour, says Arbtech, making them even more strict han before.
Households which fail to comply with clean air regulations risk facing hefty fines and even criminal convictions.
Arbtech advises: “In England, local authorities can issue fines starting at £175 for those who breach these regulations, with penalties reaching up to £300.
“Using unauthorised fuel in a non-Defra-exempt appliance could result in fines of up to £1,000.
“And for repeat offenders, cases taken to court could lead to penalties as high as £5,000.”
A spokesperson for Arbtech said: “As the colder months set in, many people will turn to their log burners to keep warm and save money on energy bills, but it’s vital to understand the latest clean air regulations.
“Failing to meet these standards could lead to significant fines or even a criminal record, yet many log burner owners remain unaware of the potential risks.
“The rules are clear: only compliant stoves and appropriate materials should be used.
“Burning the wrong fuels or using damaged equipment, like stoves with cracked glass, can lead to dangerous emissions and hefty penalties.
“To avoid these issues, we encourage everyone to check their burners meet the required standards and switch to eco-friendly alternatives where possible.”
