Homeowners could face a £5,000 fine this festive season!

Many homeowners go all out during the festive season, adorning the inside and outside of their homes with eye-catching decorations in a bid to bring some Christmas cheer (and impress visitors and neighbours passing by).

But while it’s great to get in the Christmas spirit, we’re here to warn you of the consequences if you put up decorations incorrectly - up to £5,000 in fines to be exact!

Don’t land yourself a Christmas-crushing fine

Whilst some decorations are a sure way to impress visitors to your home, you do need to be aware of the laws around it. Under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957, if your decorations pose a risk of injury or accidents to visitors or passers-by, you could be at risk of facing up to £5,000 in fines.

From putting up electrical lights to the placement of Christmas candles, here are our top tips on how homeowners can decorate their homes safely this Christmas.

Five tips on how to decorate your home safely

1. Keep driveways, steps and other entry points to the home free from items that could cause someone to fall or have an accident.
2. For any hanging decorations such as overhead lights, wreaths, garlands or festive paper chains bunting, ensure they’re securely tied so they can’t fall down and create a trip hazard.
3. If you’re using electrical decorations such as string lights, illuminated Santas, or snowmen festive-themed lights, ensure they’re securely fastened and check to make sure the plug and wires aren’t damaged before turning them on.
4. If Christmas candles are a part of your festive decoration display, make sure they’re out of reach from children and flammable materials, including Christmas trees and other decorations.
5. If you’re using fake snow either inside or outside your property, make sure you keep the floor as dry and clean as possible so that the area isn’t too slippery for any guests or passers-by.

Colby Short, CEO and co-founder of GetAgent comments:

“Whilst Christmas is a great time of year to show off your decorating skills and add some personality to your property, it’s important to make sure you do so in a safe and considerate way.

To avoid risking a hefty fine, homeowners should ensure their festive decorations are carefully secured and electrical decorations are properly wired and installed. Also ensure that decorations are not placed in areas where they could cause obstruction or harm, such as on walkways or doorsteps where passersby might not be able to clearly see them - especially with the evenings getting dark so early.”

For more information on how to decorate your home safely, check out our blog today!