Can my neighbour complain about my log burner?

When you’re burning wood at home, the only thing your neighbours should notice is your warm smile – not smoke from your chimney. 

Even if you haven’t ever had any comments about your wood burner, it’s good practice to stay up to date on the best ways to burn – it will save you money and any unnecessary conflict. 

Why would your neighbour complain? 

The two most likely reasons your neighbour may complain about your log burner are either your chimney is letting out a lot of smoke, or there is a strong, lingering smell of smoke whenever you burn. 

Common causes for your wood burner producing excessive smoke include: 

• Burning wet wood or material fit for burning 
• Lack of regular maintenance (chimney sweeping and appliance servicing) 
• Using an outdated, inefficient stove 
• Poor operation 

As public awareness of the consequences of poor air quality continues to grow, individuals that are producing excessive amounts of smoke need to be more aware of the impact their wood burners are having on their neighbours and local environment.  

Well-operated, modern log burners should expel very little smoke from the chimney during operation.  

Only the initial lighting of your fire should emit a small amount of smoke from the chimney – if your stove is producing excessive smoke you should contact your local HETAS professional to investigate and fix any faults. 

Questions to ask yourself

If your neighbour has let you know they have concerns about your wood burner, it might be time to check you are burning responsibly. They may have noticed smoke or a smell that usually isn’t there when you burn, indicating the wrong fuel has been used, you’re due a sweep, or you’ve damaged your installation through misuse.

Knowing that you’ve accidentally disturbed your neighbour should first make you check you’re burning responsibly and make you ask yourself: 

• Is my firewood Ready to Burn? 
• When did I last get my chimney swept? 
• Is my log burner due its annual service? 
• Has my stove been acting different and could something be wrong? 

They may have just made you aware of a problem early enough that you can get it fixed without any permanent damage being caused. This will help you not only generate more heat for less money, but even avoid a fine if you live in a smoke control area. 

How to complain about a wood burner 

If you’re having concerns about your neighbour’s wood burner and you think it is emitting too much smoke, there are a few ways you can try and make things right.  

Talking to your neighbour and explaining how the smoke is affecting you is the best first approach. They may not be aware of the impact it is having on you and directing them to the HETAS Advice Hub for some top tips on how to burn safely could fix any issues they’ve been having. 

If the issue continues, your local council are legally obligated to investigate any complaints relating to nuisance smoke or fumes – as per the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 

Use the government’s local council finder to discover who you need to contact. 

Keep a log of times when you have experienced excessive smoke from your neighbour’s stove and how it has impacted you – such as stopping you from spending time in your garden or leaving a persistent smoky smell. This will help your council communicate with your neighbour and stop issues from continuing. 

How to reduce smoke coming out of your chimney 

Even if you are confident in your burning skills, it’s good to make sure you stay on top of the best ways to burn – this will help you get more heat with less wood, save money on your annual chimney sweep, and make sure you are keeping warm without disturbing your neighbour. 

Following our top tips on how to burn efficiently and responsibly will make sure you are using your stove correctly and avoiding bad habits, such as leaving the stove door open as you burn or trying to burn overnight. 

Choosing the right fuel for your stove (and not burning anything you can get your hands on) will keep your stove operating correctly and your chimney smoke-free. 

Lighting your fire using the top-down method will make sure all the smoke is burned off in your stove and it’s not coming back into your room – or coming out in excessive amounts from your chimney.