£5,000 fine warning for Halloween as people told 'don't upset neighbours'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

UK households are being warned that their spooky Halloween celebrations could land them with a £5,000 fine. Over-the-top decorations and noisy parties could attract the attention of local "curtain twitchers" ready to report any disturbances.HCB Solicitors, a top UK law firm, warns that these Halloween antics could lead to various fines and legal actions.

One on light nuisance could see you hit with a £5,000 fine - and there are others too that could hit you in the pocket very severely.Rob Price, Head of Litigation Department at HCB Solicitors, explained: "Not everybody loves Halloween and may not welcome bright lights shining in from their neighbour." He added that under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a statutory light nuisance claim can be made if artificial light interferes with another home's use or enjoyment.

If your lights cause issues for your neighbours, you could be served with a legal notice and fined up to £5,000 if you fail to tone down or remove your decorations.Households are being warned that ignoring a "no trick or treating" sign and persistently knocking could be viewed as harassment, potentially leading to fines.

The amount of the fine would depend on various factors including the impact on the defendant and the severity of the offence, according to Price.What's more if you're throwing a Halloween party, it's advised to lower the noise levels between 11pm and 7am.