stove

Following changes in the law, you could find an official on your doorstep issuing a £300 fine for allowing your stove to be too smoky. To make sure you don't get penalised by this 2023 law change which means your chimney must emit less that 3g/hour smoke, instead of 5g/hour, we wanted to share some steps that you can take to avoid this happening to you.

The new rules apply to all households that use log burners in smoke control areas. As these areas cover most of England’s towns and cities, most households in England may be subject to this fine. Anyone found to be in breach could now be liable for an on-the-spot fine of up to £300 and could even face criminal prosecution if they refuse to cut back their chimney smoke.

If you’re unsure if you live in a Smoke Control Area you should contact your local council to check. You can also check your postcode on this

In these times of global crises and rising fuel poverty, wood-burning stoves have emerged as a crucial lifeline for many families. However, some newspapers have been quick to condemn this heat source, misrepresenting data and overlooking the positive impact it has on people's lives.

While it is undeniable that updating outdated open fires and wood-burning stoves can substantially reduce PM2.5 emissions, we urge a more nuanced examination of the facts. The UK's Clean Air Strategy by Defra suggests that domestic combustion is responsible for 38% of fine particulate matter, based on a 2015 government survey that overestimated wood burning in stoves and fireplaces.

A more extensive and independently verified 2019 survey of over 10,000 individuals revealed a much lower figure, around 13%, for domestic combustion. Furthermore,