Brits can land £5,000 fine for making simple Christmas decoration mistake
Many of our homes are already lit up ready for Christmas – but you may want to check you haven't made any mistakes.
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 there are a few things you need to know.
Property experts at GetAgent are warning homeowners against putting up decorations incorrectly, as they could find themselves with fines of up to £5,000. Yep, you may want to check you've done everything right!
READ MORE: Dad decorates home with 70,000 Christmas lights – and is hit with huge bill
Check out more real life stories here
While some decorations are a sure way to impress visitors to your home, experts have warned that you need to be careful, as they could land you a fine of up to £5,000 under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957, if they pose a risk of injury or accidents to visitors or passers-by.
From putting up electrical lights to the placement of Christmas candles, the experts at GetAgent have given their top five tips on how homeowners can decorate their properties safely this Christmas.
Colby Short, CEO and co-founder of GetAgent, said: "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."
Colby added: "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.”
Five tips on how to decorate your home safely
Keep driveways, steps and other entry points to the home free from items that could cause someone to fall or have an accident.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter
Source: Read Full Article