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Original poster

Neighbours biomass smoke is ruining our house (and health of unborn child?)

84 replies

TheCornishGoodLife · 05/04/2025 07:00

We moved house 4 months ago and really stretched ourselves to get it because we loved it so much.
Turns out our neighbours have a biomass boiler that pumps out black smoke across our house and garden every single day from about 4pm-9pm and it’s really getting me down. Now that the weather is warmer, we can’t have any doors or windows open at all, we can’t be out/sit out in the garden during that time because it stinks and hurts your chest, we can’t put any washing out. The smell also seems to seep into the house as well.
The smoke doesn’t affect them because it always blows away from them, right over our house and you get a horrible smoky haze in our garden for hours. It’s like living next to someone that has a big bonfire next to you every single day.
On top of that, I’m quite worried about the health effects of this (plus I’ve just found out I’m pregnant so that’s a double worry).
Ive read up about biomass boilers and used right, they should have a clean burn. So they’re clearly not using it right/burning rubbish to try to save money.
It’s such a shame because this house was supposed to be THE house, and now I’m starting to want to rush to get the redecorating done and move again.
We are super keen to keep good neighbourly relations - is it reasonable for me to say something - have we left it long enough since moving in? Am I being overly sensitive? Is there a gentle way of approaching this?
Thank you so much!!

OP posts:
Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 05/04/2025 17:39

Good luck with your invitation suggest you invite then for BBQ. Plan it for when their biomass burner in full flow & they get your point whilst 'enjoying' your BBQ. 😂

Original poster
TheCornishGoodLife · 05/04/2025 17:11

Thank you so much for all the amazing tips ☺️ inviting them over is a really good idea - I’d not thought of that. I think unfortunately they are aware that the smoke blows onto our side and into the garden - the boiler flue is huge and in full view of their house snd garden so would be impossible to miss. Both the houses are fairly close so they’ll be able to see it blowing over, but perhaps they aren’t aware of how much smoke fills the garden? And they probably don’t know we can smell it in the house. Who knows… part of me thinks they’re just hoping we don’t say anything, but it’s definitely a worth a try! I’m super keen to keep good relations so don’t want to report them just yet 😅

It’s definitely a biomass boiler and not a wood burner luckily - it’s hugeee 😫 and they proudly gave us an in-depth tour of the biomass boiler when we first moved in 😂 they do have a log burners but only light them when it’s cold, and those aren’t an issue thankfully!

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 05/04/2025 11:05

Are you sure it’s a biomass boiler? Sounds more like a wood burner either way I’d talk to them.

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 05/04/2025 08:30

Pillarsofsalt · 05/04/2025 07:04

Are they aware? Can you invite them over to your garden to show them what’s happening? That would be my starting point.

Do this it's likely that they're not aware of the problem.

If no joy then you have this option, but I'd do my best to sort the issue out amicably first:
Report them to your council they can’t use it like this

farmlife2 · 05/04/2025 08:27

Why does everyone want to rush to the council? Talk to them first, document the evidence, then report to council if they don't take fast action.

kiwiane · 05/04/2025 07:21

It is a nuisance so your council should be involved; make sure you make clear the adverse affect this is having on you.

REDB99 · 05/04/2025 07:05

I agree that you need to do something. Are they aware of it? I would ask them to come and see the smoke blowing across your garden so they can see what it is like. Hopefully this will lead them to take action. If it doesn’t I would report them.

Pillarsofsalt · 05/04/2025 07:04

Are they aware? Can you invite them over to your garden to show them what’s happening? That would be my starting point.

Menopants · 05/04/2025 07:02

Report them to your council they can’t use it like this