Chimney Removal

[bonnie&clyde]

I'm pretty sure my neighbour is removing the chimney breast from both flours of their house. Judging by the time if night and noise I'd guess they're doing a DIY job. I'm not convinced they will ensure the chimney stack is properly supported. Can I contact the local council about this? If so which department? Any advice?

[The Builder]

Bonnie, I guess your concern is over the fact that it's a shared stack?

Speak to Building Control (part of the Planning Dept.) I'll bet they know nothing about it. It's their call, but they may want to keep out of it (it happens).

If no luck, then contact Environmental Health.

[bonnie&clyde]

Thanks. You're right. I'm worried the chimney comes down with all the bad weather that is on the way. Thanks for your help

[Cloverjo]

Could you ask them what they're doing and say you're concerned about the impact on your house? They might be able to reassure you.

[tamborine]

Ask to check out work at neighbors, on the pretence you want similar done. Nothing gained by attacking them with all guns blazing unless you have good cause.

[malana3]

Some years ago I lived in a road of 1930's semi-detached houses and the fad at that time was to remove the chimney breasts to both the ground and first floors. When both properties did this it resulted in the 9" party wall being totally unsupported when the original architects would have taken the buttressing provided by the chimneys into account in their calculations. The local authority did not seem to be interested but I have often wondered if at some stage structural problems would be the result of these works.

[Barmaid]

I think this falls under the Party Wall Act. This is not my area. Hopefully a property expert will be along at some point.

I'd suggest you research around that area though.

[hc4361]

Your neighbour is legally obliged to notify you of the work under the Party Wall Act:

https://www.gov.uk/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance

Download all the information and speak to your council if you can't talk to your neighbours.

[bonnie&clyde]

Thanks everyone. I have emailed Building Regs at the Council, who've said the person needed to have submitted some sort of application. They're looking into it - I'll keep you posted on what happens.

[TonyV]

Bonnie glad you are getting something done, hopefully building inspector will be on case quickly - you cannot simply remove chimney breasts without surpporting rest of chimney

[buildersmate]

Barmaid is right. A chimney breast attached to a party wall, which this must be, is covered by the Party Wall Act 1996 if an owner wishes to remove it.
You can try for advice from Building Control but they do not legislate this work. They may be interested, though, on the grounds that the integrity of the party wall could be compromised. What is supposed to happen before the work occurs is that the neighbour should serve notice on you under the Party Wall Act. That entitles you to appoint a surveyor, who agrees on your behalf with another surveyor working on behalf of the neighbour to construct a party wall agreement. This agreement assures the structural integrity of what he is doing. THE Person wanting to do the work HAS TO PAY THE COST of both sets of surveyors.
Try phoning a surveyor in the morning. Such people do a lot of these sort of agreements. What I'm not sure of is what happens when a householder has failed to follow this process and started the work.

[bonnie&clyde]

UPDATE
The builder and neighbour had a chat with me yesterday and apologised for the noise. Tried to say that work could go on until 10pm but by that time I let it slide as i'd made my point. Building Regs are involved and making sure everything is done correctly - as it wasn't being done correctly before that. All in all I'm happy with the outcome. Thanks for all the advice