Air Pollution

(asked on 30th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legal maintenance requirements apply to (a) wood-burning stoves, (b) open fireplaces, (c) gas appliances, and (d) chimneys on domestic premises.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 25th April 2022

Defra does not set legal maintenance requirements for solid fuel appliances; however, we do encourage homeowners/occupiers to carry out regular maintenance of wood-burning stoves and open fireplaces. We also encourage those that use solid fuel appliances to have their chimneys swept on a regular basis, our recommendation is at least once a year.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 impose a legal requirement on landlords of domestic premises to maintain all gas appliances provided for use by tenants in a safe condition. This legislation falls within the regulatory remit of the Health and Safety Executive. There are no legal maintenance requirements for gas appliances in owner-occupied domestic premises, but it is strongly advised that all gas appliances are regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

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