Last year local legislation changed to encapsulate all of Oxford city in a new smokeless zone. If you are someone who already owned and used a chimney, it may impact you, but there are some steps you can take before making any changes or decisions regarding your home.

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Firstly, we would advise a little bit of investigation. A stove is awarded 'DEFRA Approved' status if it passes the rigorous efficiency testing set out by the government.

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You can find the list of approved appliances here.

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There are a great many stoves that are exempt, and the chances are that if your stove is 5 years old or less, and manufactured by one of the major stove suppliers, it can be found on this list. 

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If you can't find your stove on the list we recommend calling the manufacturer. The customer service teams are very knowledgable on the subject, as it is a hoop they have to jump through

on a regular basis. ​​

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If your stove is not exempt, or you use an open fireplace, you can still light fires, as long as you are burning a DEFRA authorised fuel.

Please note this doesn't include wood.

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Please don't panic. As long as you familiarise yourself with the new regulations, and you are lighting fires and maintaining your chimney responsibly, you won't be affected.