When the nights draw in and the temperature drops, it’s a sad fact that our energy bills do the opposite. So the thought of swerving the soaring cost of electric and gas prices by installing a log burner is very tempting indeed.
But if can you put a log burner in a council house? Unfortunately the ways you can modify your home are restricted. You have to ask permission to instal a log burner from your local authority, and for something as potentially hazardous as a log burner or stove, the answer is likely to be “no”. But it may not always be.
Each local authority has a legal obligation to make sure the homes they let are safe. And as a log burner represents a potential fire hazard, they would have to make sure it was installed by a HETAS-registered operative.
They’d also be required to maintain the log burner and the flue to meet safety standards which means at least one check every year.
It’s for this reason that most people who have thought about installing a log burner in their council house have been disappointed after approaching their local authority for permission.
Do You Need Permission to Install a Log Burner?
If you are living in a housing association house or council housing, the answer to this question is a resounding YES.
And while your council has to consider any request for modifications you’d like to make to your rented house seriously, as we’ve established, most people are not allowed to. There are a few reasons:
1. The council are letting the property to you and are ultimately responsible for the maintenance and safety of all internal features and appliances. A log burner would qualify as an added expense and safety risk.
2. Changes to a home’s insurance cover would need to be looked into and changed by the council and this is usually a stumbling block for most applications.
3. If the log burner is damaged or becomes unsafe the council would become responsible for its repair or removal adding to their expenses.
4. If the log burner had to be removed before the property was relet, the cost and delay in re-letting would not be considered an acceptable ‘loss’ for most local authorities.
But before you lose hope, it will certainly be worth contacting your authority services to get a definitive answer. In some cases, where the property is older and has period features, a log burner might be an acceptable solution to keep your council house looking its best.
And if your house already has an open fire or an older appliance that will shortly need to be upgraded, you may have a case to request permission to instal a log burner or multi-fuel stove.
Can I Install a Log Burner in Rented Property?
The answer to this question is largely the same as the answer above. If you are a private tenant, yes, you technically could instal a log burner – but only with your landlord’s permission.
Like a local authority, a private landlord is ultimately responsible for the upkeep and safety of your rented property and everything in it.
They would have to oversee the installation, through a HETAS registered tradesman, of your log burner or multifuel stove and make sure their insurance policy included solid fuel burners.
And, as before, they would either be responsible for its annual service or expect you, as their tenant, to produce an annual certificate to prove it has been checked for insurance purposes.
Log Burner in Rented Property
However, as log burners are an attractive feature that might improve EPC add to the value of a private landlord’s property, they might be more open to negotiation about its installation. And they are far more likely to allow one to be fitted than a council or local authority.
Log burners and multifuel stoves, avoid the gas or electric bills that are becoming more and more startling. And nothing beats cosying up in front of a burner on a cold winter’s night.
But, the safety of your family must come first. So if you’re thinking about fitting a log burner into a council house or rented property it should be undertaken by a professional fitter, and strictly with the house owner’s written permission.
Can I Put a Log Burner in My Council House?
While the installation of a log burner in a council house poses certain challenges, it is feasible with the right permissions and safety measures.
As long as your local council agree and you adopt appropriate installation practices, you can enjoy the benefits of a log burner without compromising safety.
