Overview
- Freedom of information data for September 2024 to August 2025 shows 15,195 complaints about domestic wood-burning resulted in 24 fines and a single prosecution.
- In legally designated smoke control areas, 9,274 complaints were logged, a 65% annual increase, despite powers to fine £300 for smoky chimneys or up to £1,000 for unauthorised fuels and appliances.
- Local authorities and the Local Government Association say limited funding and staffing constrain monitoring and enforcement of domestic burning rules.
- Health bodies link wood smoke PM2.5 to serious harms, with the Royal College of Physicians citing up to 36,000 premature UK deaths a year and UCL research indicating faster lung-function decline among stove users.
- Campaign group Mums for Lungs urges stronger enforcement and a review of ‘Defra‑approved’ stove labelling, while UCL mapping shows household stove ownership rose from about 9.4% in 2022 to 10.3% in 2024.