Here's how renovation work on your home could land you with a £400 fine

Householders who pay for services like landscape gardening, bathroom fitting and redecorating should check whether the tradesperson they’re employing has a Waste Carrier Licence.

If they don’t and the waste from the job is subsequently fly tipped, householders run the risk of a £400 fine – despite not being directly involved in the crime.

Fly tipping hit the headlines recently as a prolific fly-tipper was sentenced to 11 months in prison for dumping tyres on waste ground.

In light of this, Toolstation wants law-abiding homeowners to be aware of a little-known regulation that means you could face a £400 fine, even if you’re not directly responsible for fly tipping.

What is fly tipping?

Fly tipping is defined as the ‘illegal deposit of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it’. This includes garden waste, old furniture, and construction waste.

What are the laws around fly tipping for householders?

Fly tipping can carry an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison.

In the UK, householders can also be fined up to £400 if they pass their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier which is subsequently fly tipped.

How can householders protect themselves?

If you’re asking a third party such as a builder or landscape gardener to remove your waste as part of a job, you must ensure they are a registered waste carrier.

You can do this by asking to see their ‘Waste Carrier Licence’ or by checking online via the ‘Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers’.

If the tradesperson you’re employing isn’t registered, it’s your responsibility to dispose of any waste produced. Tarpaulin and waste bags are an appropriate option for storing waste if you don’t need or haven’t got the space required for a skip. .

What are the laws around fly tipping for tradespeople?

If your business transports, buys, sells or disposes of waste, or arranges for somebody else to buy, sell or dispose of waste, you must register as a waste carrier, broker or dealer.

You can be fined up to £5,000 if you do not register.

How can tradespeople protect themselves?

If you handle waste, you must register via the gov.uk website. In England, registration is free for carriers, or £154 for brokers and dealers.

When you register, you’ll be told whether your registration is ‘upper tier’ or ‘lower tier’. Lower tier registrations don’t require renewal but upper tier registrations must be renewed every three years at a cost of £105.