Homeowners are being alerted to five laws they might unknowingly violate within their own homes. Recent findings have brought attention to everyday regulations that could lead to hefty fines, potentially reaching as high as £37,070.
While many are aware of laws like being drunk and disorderly in public or obstructing law enforcement, fewer realise the other legalities that apply to daily life at home. With rising living costs making bills a concern, steering clear of fines is crucial for many.
Putting electricals in wrong bin – £5,000 fine
Incorrect disposal of electricals, such as throwing a TV into a regular bin, can lead to a hefty £5,000 fine under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. This law prohibits the disposal of electronic items like TVs in regular rubbish due to the potential contamination of land with hazardous and toxic chemicals.
In the UK, chucking a TV into your regular household bin could land you with a fine due to local council regulations. Typically, you might be hit with a fixed penalty notice between £80 and £100 for not disposing of waste properly.
Persist in flouting these rules, and you could see fines ramp up or even face further legal action. Gov.uk warns: “The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive can result in fines for non-compliance, ranging from £5,000 to unlimited.
“You may sometimes get warning letters and formal cautions before a prosecution. The Office for Product Safety and Standards enforces these regulations. You can contact them if you have any questions on compliance or suspected non-compliance.”
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is tightly regulated to cut down on the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) being burned or dumped in landfill sites. This reduction is sought through measures that promote the recovery, reuse, and recycling of products and components.
Leaky tap – £1,000 fine
Severn Trent has published an online document with a flow chart explaining where homeowners can be responsible for leaks. It is on this link here, reports Lancs Live.
A section called ‘the legal bit’ states: “If a leak on a private supply pipe isn’t repaired within 14 days of the leak being confirmed, we’ll start the Defective Water Fittings enforcement process under Section 75 (2) (b) and 170 of the Water Industry Act 1991. If you fail to carry out the necessary repairs within the period stated in this notice, we will take the following steps:
“A) Carry out the work through a contractor and recover any costs from you. B) Prosecute you under Water Industry Act 1991 Section 73 for allowing your water fittings to be or remain in a defective condition. The maximum fine is £1,000.”
Parking in front of neighbour’s drive – £70 fine
Motorists are being urged to be considerate when parking, as failing to do so could result in a £70 penalty, particularly when blocking a neighbour’s driveway. The Highway Code gives clear guidance under Rule 243: “Do not stop or park in front of an entrance to a property.”
Further advice from the RAC confirms: “It is perfectly legal to park outside someone’s house, unless the vehicle is blocking a driveway or a wheel is over a dropped kerb. Where no parking controls exist, drivers do not have an ‘automatic spot’ for parking outside their homes.
“If your vehicle is on your driveway and another car is parked on a public highway and blocking your access out of your driveway, the council has the power to act. But if that other car is on a drive, it’s technically on private property – and the council has no authority to remove it.”
Blocking access over a dropped kerb is illegal and can result in local authorities’ enforcement. If you are faced with this issue, you can contact your local council via gov.uk or call the non-emergency police number 101 to get assistance.
Persistent problems may lead to the council drawing a white line below the dropped kerb as a deterrent. The cost of a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) varies depending on the offence and the issuing council. PCNs are commonly given for illegal parking, with a standard 28-day payment period.
Early payment within 14 days can often result in a reduced fine. Typically, a PCN can range from £50 – £130, while a Fixed Penalty Notice can be anywhere between £50 – £300, depending on the severity of the violation.
Paying the Penalty Charge Notice within 14 days reduces the liability to 50% of the total charge. If your driveway is blocked, police assistance is unlikely unless the obstruction prevents you from leaving, which could be deemed anti-social behaviour.
Serious crack – £30,000 fine
A dangerous crack in your home could be classified as a “category 1 hazard” under the Housing Act 2004, leading to a hefty £30,000 fine. This classification means that your local housing authority is legally obliged to take action against the property owner to ensure necessary repairs are carried out.
This could involve issuing an improvement notice or even taking emergency measures if the crack presents an immediate danger to those living there. If the property owner does not comply, they could face fines.
Legislation. gov.uk states: “The local housing authority may impose a financial penalty on a person if satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that the person’s conduct amounts to a relevant housing offence in respect of premises in England. In this section “relevant housing offence” means an offence under- (a)section 30 (failure to comply with improvement notice).”
“(3) Only one financial penalty under this section may be imposed on a person in respect of the same conduct. (4) The amount of a financial penalty imposed under this section is to be determined by the local housing authority, but must not be more than £30,000.”
Running your log burner poorly – £1,000 fine
Local authorities in England can slap you with fines starting at £175 if you’re not using your log burner properly, but penalties can soar even higher.
What are the wood burner regulations?
- If you live in a smoke control area, new wood burners can’t emit more than 3g of smoke per hour.
- If your log burner is on the list of Defra-exempt appliances that produce fewer smoke emissions, you can apply for an exemption.
- You must use an approved fuel, which varies depending on where in the UK you live. See the full list of approved fuels on the Defra website.
- Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on fuel packaging. This means the fuel has less than 20% moisture and complies with Defra’s regulations.
- All new log burners must adhere to Ecodesign rules to reduce smoke and pollutant emissions. Check with the manufacturer if a wood burner adheres to Ecodesign rules.
As part of DEFRA’s Clean Air Strategy, it’s compulsory to get your log burner serviced yearly by a certified professional. You’re also required to burn low-smoke wood fuel and install a carbon monoxide alarm in your residence.
You could also be hit with a fine of up to £1,000 for using unauthorised fuel in an appliance that’s not on the Defra-exempt list. If the case goes to court, repeat offenders could face fines as steep as £5,000.