In England, a new or replacement oil storage container at a home, for example to fuel central heating, must meet building regulations, the person responsible for the property is usually legally responsible for the tank, and GOV.UK recommends an annual inspection by someone registered with a competent person scheme.

Who is responsible for the tank

GOV.UK says the person responsible for a property or premises, such as the homeowner, is usually legally responsible for an oil storage container there. Containers include tanks, drums, intermediate bulk containers and bowsers. Which regulations apply depends on where the oil is stored: at home the normal route is the building regulations, but a container that can hold 3,501 litres or more must follow the regulations for businesses. This guide covers England; GOV.UK points to separate rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Installing a new or replacement tank

GOV.UK says a new or replacement oil storage container at a home in England, for example to fuel central heating, must meet building regulations. It recommends choosing an installer registered with a competent person scheme, who can self-certify that the work complies and deal with building control matters. Without one, the homeowner has to obtain a Building Control Notice from the local council and arrange and pay for an inspection. Without approval there will be no certificates of compliance, which may be needed when selling the home.

The installer can be prosecuted and fined for non-compliance. The homeowner is also responsible for making sure the work meets the regulations, and the local authority could make the owner pay for faulty work to be fixed.

When a bund is needed

The installer will carry out a risk assessment and say whether secondary containment, called a bund, is needed. GOV.UK says a bund must hold 110% of the tank’s capacity and be impermeable to oil and water. One is needed where spills could reach an open drain or loose manhole cover, where the tank’s vent pipes cannot be seen during filling, within 10 metres of coastal or inland fresh waters, within 50 metres of a drinking water source, where spills could run over hard ground to those waters, or in the inner zone of groundwater source protection zone 1. A bund is also needed if the tank holds more than 2,500 litres.

Inspection, labels and checks

GOV.UK says the tank should be inspected every year by someone registered with a competent person scheme, who will also say when it should be replaced. Oil Care suggests the owner checks monthly that the tank is not damaged or leaking. A sticker in a prominent position should explain how to look after the oil and what to do in a spill, and the installer of a new tank will put it on; replacements can be ordered.

If oil leaks or spills

GOV.UK advises stopping the oil spreading if possible, following the advice on the tank sticker and the Oil Care website, and not attempting to clean up a spill personally. Help should come from the insurer, the Environment Agency or the oil supplier. Legal action is possible if oil pollutes a watercourse, and this applies to all types of oil, even those sold as environmentally friendly or green.

Business rules and exclusions

Different rules apply to business premises, and GOV.UK says the business regulations apply to containers holding 201 litres or more of listed oils, which include kerosene, diesel and certain biofuels. Farms follow different rules depending on use, and heating a farmhouse follows the home rules. The business regulations do not apply to liquid petroleum gas, so an LPG tank is a separate matter. For businesses, GOV.UK says a fine is possible for non-compliance and that the Environment Agency can serve an anti-pollution works notice requiring a tank to be brought up to standard.

Getting advice

GOV.UK says questions about the oil storage regulations in England can go to the Environment Agency. Outside England, it directs readers to Natural Resources Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, since the rules there differ.

FAQs

Who is responsible if a home oil tank leaks?

GOV.UK says the person responsible for the property, usually the homeowner, is normally legally responsible for the container.

Does every home oil tank need a bund?

No. It depends on the risk assessment and location, but a tank holding more than 2,500 litres always needs one.

Which body answers questions about oil storage in England?

GOV.UK names the Environment Agency as the contact for questions about the oil storage regulations in England.

Does this apply in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. GOV.UK says different regulations apply in each of those nations.

Bottom line

For an oil boiler in England, the tank is normally the owner’s legal responsibility. A competent person installer, a bund where the risk assessment or size requires it, and an annual inspection are the main safeguards, and any spill should be reported to the insurer, oil supplier or Environment Agency. This is general information, not advice on any specific installation; a competent person can assess a particular site.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 21 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Storing oil at your home or business”

Related guides

Best Boiler Deals is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation — always confirm the details with a Gas Safe registered engineer.