Neighbour BBQ smoke: how to raise it kindly

It is a warm evening, your windows are open, and suddenly a thick cloud of smoke drifts into your living room. Neighbour BBQ smoke is a familiar part of British summers in gardens and on balconies. Once is no problem, but smoke in your bedroom every weekend is something else. This article looks at why the smoke so often ends up at yours, how to raise it kindly and what the rules in the UK say in general terms.

Why the smoke comes your way

How much it bothers you depends on where the barbecue stands, which way the wind blows and what is being burned. A barbecue close to the boundary or under your window quickly sends smoke indoors. On a still evening, smoke hangs low. Damp charcoal, firelighters, dripping fat or burning wood all create far more smoke.

Your neighbours often notice little of this. The wind is usually at their backs, and they smell their own food, not how it arrives at your place. They may not know you have asthma or a baby asleep upstairs.

Raise it kindly

Barbecues are sociable, and most people do not want to bother anyone. Bring it up lightly and without blame, at a calm moment rather than while the food is on the grill:

"Your barbecue always smells good, but with the wind in this direction the smoke goes straight into our bedroom. Could we think of something so you can keep barbecuing and we can keep our windows open?"

If the smoke affects your health, say so. It makes clear this is about more than a smell.

Things you can ask for

Start small. Little changes often go a long way:

• A different spot. A few metres further from the boundary or your windows often makes a big difference.

• A quick heads-up. Then you can close your windows or bring the washing in.

• Less smoke when lighting. A chimney starter, dry charcoal and no wood or rubbish on the fire all reduce smoke.

• Keeping an eye on the wind. When it blows towards your home, a gas barbecue or the hob could be an alternative.

• Putting it out properly. A barbecue left smouldering for hours keeps producing smoke.

Do not ask for barbecues to stop altogether. Choose one agreement and see together whether it works.

What the rules say in general terms

Having a barbecue in your own garden is generally allowed. In England and Wales, though, smoke from premises can be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Your council's environmental health team can investigate and, if the smoke is frequent or bad enough to unreasonably interfere with your home, serve an abatement notice. An occasional barbecue is unlikely to reach that level. Burning household rubbish in a way that causes pollution or harm to people’s health is an offence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar but separate rules.

If you live in a flat or rent, check the lease or tenancy agreement too, as some restrict or ban barbecues on balconies. This is general information, not legal advice. Your council or Citizens Advice can tell you more about your situation.

Keep a log

If the smoke stays a problem, keep a diary with the date, time, how long it lasted, the wind direction and the effect, such as closing your windows or coughing. Stay factual. Do not take photos of your neighbours or into their garden, and do not post complaints in a local social media group.

In practice

Balconies are a fire risk. London Fire Brigade advises never to use a barbecue on a balcony, because flames, sparks and hot embers can start a fire that spreads quickly. It also warns that smouldering ash can drift to neighbouring properties and should be left to cool and properly put out (source: London Fire Brigade). If you live in flats, that is a helpful, neutral point to raise with neighbours or the managing agent.

Councils can act on smoke. Official government guidance confirms that councils must investigate complaints of smoke that could be a statutory nuisance and can serve an abatement notice. It also says that smoke drifting across a road and endangering traffic can lead to a fine (source: GOV.UK). Even so, a calm conversation is usually the quicker route.

If you cannot sort it out together

Send a second, calm message that refers back to your conversation. After that, a community mediation service can help. If your neighbours rent, contact their landlord or housing association, and in flats the managing agent. If there is a fire, call 999 straight away. If you feel threatened, do not confront anyone: call 999 in an emergency, or 101 in a non-emergency.

A calm first message

The CalmNotes pack for barbecue smoke next door gives you editable example messages to raise barbecue smoke kindly, with follow-up messages and an Excel log. You can find packs for other situations in our English packs for the UK.

Choose a suitable next step

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