Five mistakes this winter that could land you with a £5,000 fine

WINTER brings the promise of toasty log fires, Christmas festivities and New Year’s Eve parties – but some simple mistakes could land you with a big fine while you’re celebrating.

From out-of-hand parties to driving offences and illegal fires, these are some of the little-known rules that could put the freeze on your fun.

To help ensure you aren’t slapped with any unexpected bills over the winter months, we’ve drawn up a list of the rules you should be aware of.

Breaking log burner rules – up to £1,000

Breaking new rules around the use of log burners could land you with a huge fine and even a criminal record.

In 2023, regulations were tightened to reduce the amount of smoke wood burning stoves in “smoke control areas” are allowed to emit.

The limit used to be 5g per hour, but is now 3g per hour.

Smoke control areas were introduced by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to reduce air pollution and cover many towns and cities in England.

Since last year, local councils can issue fines between £175 and £300 to those found to be in breach of the rules.

Lighting a fire to keep you warm this winter could also land you in hot water if you’re found to be using an unauthorised fuel in a smoke control area.

You must use approved fuels for your device or smoke-free fuels in the designated areas.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you buy unauthorised fuel to use in an unapproved device.

In some cases, if the situation goes to court, then fines could be as high as £5,000 for repeat offenders, as well as an additional £2,500 for every day the breach continues.

You can find out if you live in a smoke control area here: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/sca/.

Halloween parties – up to £1,000

Halloween is a great excuse for dressing up and partying, but if things get out of hand there’s a chance you could be facing a big bill.

The most common complaints made in relation to parties are down to excessive noise.

Derbyshire Police has already issued this warning: “If having a Halloween party at home, let your neighbours know beforehand, so they won’t be alarmed.

“Between 11pm and 7am, keep the noise low and do not let fireworks off.”

After 11pm, permitted noise levels are 34dBA (decibels adjusted) where background noise is no higher than 24dBA or 10dBA above the level of background noise if this exceeds 24dBA.

Noise complaints are generally dealt with by local councils who will serve an abatement notice if they agree the disturbance amounts to a statutory nuisance.

If an abatement notice is not complied with a fine of £110 per household can be issued.

If this is not paid the householder could be prosecuted, with convictions leading to a fine of up to £1,000.

Disposing of Christmas waste – up to £5,000

Christmas brings joy, presents, frivolity and a lot of rubbish.

When it comes to disposing of this waste breaking the rules could land you with an on the spot fine or even a court summons.

So, whether you’re disposing of your Christmas tree come January or working out which bin to put piles of wrapping paper into, make sure you check the guidance from your local authority.

You should also double check if items such as wrapping paper and food packaging are recyclable, as Christmas-y additions such as glitter can mean they are destined for general waste instead.

Depending on your local council, you could be fined up to £1,000 for not disposing of your rubbish properly.

In previous years, North Herts Council has issued fixed penalty notices of £75 for littering and £400 for fly-tipping, while Wakefield Council said it would fine fly-tippers up to £250.

In South Norfolk, residents were warned last year they could be fined up to £5,000 if they pass their waste to an unauthorised person who then dumps it illegally.

Not de-icing your car properly – £60

Not de-icing your car properly on a frosty day could land you with a £60 fine and three penalty points, according to the RAC.

The car specialist said that driving without clearing the car fully could be classed as using a vehicle with parts or accessories in a “dangerous condition”.

It is not enough to clear the driver’s side of the windscreen, drivers must by law have a full view of the road and traffic ahead, which means clearing your entire windscreen, mirrors and side windows.

The RAC has also warned drivers against leaving their engine running while the car is unattended.

While it’s tempting to switch the engine on while you’re getting ready in the mornings to help clear the ice, the car experts said it could land you a fine.

Rule 123 of the Highway Code stated: “You must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.

“Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution.

“However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”

Breaking the rule could land you with a fixed penalty notice of £20, which would increase to £40 if not paid promptly.

Removing fallen leaves – up to £1,000

Leaves can quickly fill your driveway or garden as autumn begins turning to winter, but be careful how you dispose of them.

Simply sweeping leaves off your property could result in an on-the-spot fine or even a fly-tipping prosecution.

Mansfield Council has previously warned that those caught sweeping leaves from their property onto the highway could receive a £75 fine.

Trafford Council has said sweeping leaves and other natural debris from a garden or driveway onto the street will be treated as a littering or fly tipping offence, depending on the quantity.

Those caught fly-tipping can be handed fines of up to £1,000.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories