The King’s Coronation is less than two weeks away, with many Brits planning to pull out all the stops and decorate their homes for the bank holiday weekend. Some are even rushing to Argos to pick up life-size cardboard cutouts of the monarch.
However, what many may not know is that decorating the house for the King’s Coronation could land in a hefty fine - if it’s not done safely.
Property experts at the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People, are warning homeowners that many popular home decorations for the King’s Coronation could land them with a fine of up to £5,000 if they pose a risk of injury or accidents to visitors and passers-by.
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According to the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 and Occupier’s Liability Act 1984, homeowners are obliged to deliver ‘reasonable care for the safety of visitors to your property’ - or face a potential fine.
Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People, said : “Along with many other people in the UK, we can’t wait for the long weekend to celebrate the King’s Coronation, but nothing kills the party spirit more than a hefty fine. At Rated People, we want homeowners to have a great time. It was important to alert them about the potential risks and help them avoid a fine with our tips on how to decorate in the safest possible way.”
Now, the home maintenance and repair experts have shared six top tips on how to decorate your home safely for the King’s Coronation:
It’s important to make sure driveways, steps and any other entry points to the home are free from items that could cause someone to fall or have an accident
For decorations like bunting, ensure it’s securely tied so it can’t fall down and create a trip hazard
Electrical decorations, like string lights could become a fire hazard as well as a trip hazard, so ensure they’re securely fastened and check to make sure the plug and wires aren’t damaged before turning them on. Also, ensure they’re kept away from flammable materials and do not place them in areas where they can be knocked over or damaged
If you’re looking to use balloons, make sure there’s still a clear pathway for guests to walk around your home – if there are too many on the floor, this could mean someone could trip and fall
If you’re having children or pets over to your house, it’s a good idea to remove anything that could become a choking hazard, so small decorations and decorative items should be placed out of reach
If you have anything that’s broken in your home that needs to be repaired so it won’t pose a risk of injury, be sure to fix it before your party - either by yourself or using an experienced tradesperson
Rated people added: “To avoid the risk of incurring a fine, homeowners should ensure all decorations are carefully secured, electrical decorations are properly wired and installed, and decorations are not placed in areas where they could cause obstruction or harm.
“If you’re really keen to make the day go off with a bang, be aware that using fireworks illegally could result in a £90 on-the-spot fine.
“Likewise, noise disruption after hours can lead to noise complaints, so be sure to give your neighbours a heads-up about your party and to make sure you keep music at the permitted sound levels and only between the hours of 7 am to 11 pm.”
King’s Coronation bunting is the item that’s increased in popularity the most in recent months, with search volume increasing by 519 per cent since January 2023 and Union Jack bunting is close behind in second place (+247%).
Google searches for a King Charles cardboard cutout have gone up by 213 per cent since January, making it the third most popular Coronation decoration and definitely a great way to entertain guests.
The King’s Coronation will be televised on Saturday, May 6, with Brits enjoying a bank holiday weekend through to Monday, May 8.
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