I don't know about you, but Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year and with that comes the opportunity to make my decorations bigger and more eye-catching every year. But before you get out your bats, skeletons and pumpkins, legal experts warn that your Halloween decorations could land you a hefty fine.
When you put yours together Halloween decoration ideasIt's fair to say that you're not thinking about the legal ramifications and are just focusing on the aesthetics. However, if you plan on sprinkling more than a few plastic pumpkins on your windowsills, you need to be aware of the various property laws that can be violated by decorations.
With Halloween decorations attracting fines of up to £50,000 in extreme cases, these are all the rules and regulations you need to consider before decorating your home for Halloween.
How can your Halloween decorations get you in trouble?
I can't say I ever thought that my Halloween decorations could get me into legal trouble. From boarding the Glass pumpkin trend to give everything Pinkoweenthe last thing on my mind was the law. However, there are actually several actions that you need to take into account.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)
“Halloween decorations can cause safety risks, disputes with neighbors, and even affect the value of a property or future sales.” Councils can issue fines of between £100 and £5,000 if displays cause danger, and liability can increase to up to £50,000 if negligence results in injury,” says Louise Ainley, a qualified conveyancer with a licensed conveyancer course provider Access to justice online.
Which laws must be observed? You must consider the Occupier's Liability Act of 1957 and 1984, the Highways Act of 1980 and the Environmental Protection Act of 1990.
“Under the Occupiers' Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984, you have a duty to ensure that there are no foreseeable risks to visitors, such as tripping hazards caused by extension cords, low-hanging objects in the garden or open flames caused by candles. It is also important to check that all outdoor electrical equipment is weatherproof and that sockets are not overloaded,” explains Lucie-Anne Rhodes, Consultant Solicitor Richard Nelson LLP.
“You should also ensure that your decorations do not obstruct any public right of way or road, as this may breach the Highways Act 1980, and remember that excessively loud or disruptive displays may give rise to complaints under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you are a renter, you should also be careful that your decoration does not damage the property or breach your rental agreement, for example by staining the walls with Blu Tack, as this could cause problems with your landlord and potentially result in you not getting the full deposit back.
“In short: keep decorations safe, considerate and within the boundaries of your property; this way you can enjoy a spooky performance without any legal concerns,” concluded Lucie-Anne.
And if you're lacking ideas for safe and considerate decorating, here are some options to get you started.
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