Homeowners are being warned about five laws they may inadvertently breach within their residences. Recent research has highlighted common regulations that could result in significant penalties, potentially amounting to £37,070.
Many recognise laws concerning public intoxication or interference with law enforcement. However, fewer are aware of the various legal obligations pertaining to their everyday home life.
As living expenses continue to rise, avoiding fines has become increasingly important for many households. Below is a look at five laws you may not realising you could be breaking at home.
Getting rid of electricals wrongly – £5,000 fine
Improper disposal of electrical items, like throwing a TV in a regular trash bin, can result in a significant fine of up to £5,000 under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. This legislation prohibits the disposal of electronic devices, including TVs, in standard waste due to the risk of contaminating the land with harmful and toxic substances.
In the UK, throwing a TV in your household bin could lead to penalties local councils impose. Generally, you might receive a fixed penalty notice ranging from £80 to £100 for improper waste disposal.
If you continue to ignore these regulations, fines may increase, and you could face additional legal consequences. According to Gov.uk, non-compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive can lead to fines ranging from £5,000 to potentially unlimited amounts.
You might receive warning letters and formal cautions before facing prosecution. The Office for Product Safety and Standards is responsible for enforcing these rules, and they are available to answer any questions regarding compliance or suspected violations.
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is strictly regulated to minimize the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that is incinerated or sent to landfills. This effort aims to encourage the recovery, reuse, and recycling of products and their components.
Serious crack – £30,000 fine
A bad crack in your home might be considered a “category 1 hazard” according to the Housing Act 2004, which could result in a significant fine of up to £30,000. This designation requires your local housing authority to act against the property owner to ensure essential repairs are completed.
This could mean they issue an improvement notice or even implement emergency measures if the crack poses an immediate risk to residents. If the property owner fails to comply, they may incur additional 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.”
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.”
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.
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.
