Next door causing cracks

jackthelad_2

I live in a 1930 mid terraced house my diy neighbour has removed his ground floor front room chimney breast down to make for more room. This has caused cracks and blown the plaster on my chimney breast and adjoining wall .At the time I didn’t mention the damaged caused. Now he’s told me he’s planning to do the same in the back room. I not happy hearing this and would like to stop this happening, what recourse do I have .I’ve shown him the cracks - said he would repair but that’s not practical as I don’t want all the mess and redecoration involved .Can I insist he get a party wall agreement and if so how dose he obtain this? I don’t wish to fallout with him.

Any advice appreciated

Jack

MX5huggy

From http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/133214.pdf

"The key point is whether your planned work might have consequences for the structural strength and support functions of the party wall as a whole, or cause damage to the Adjoining Owner’s side of the wall. If you are in doubt about whether your planned work requires a notice you might wish to seek advice from a qualified building professional"

So you can insist on a Party wall agreement but not wishing to fall out with him when you start asking for him to pay for a survayer etc might be difficult! I would want to know what he is doing to hold up the chimney.

olias

I would also be worried about whether he has adequately supported the rest of the chimney structure above. This is not really a diy job as it really needs a structural engineer to calculate how much load the chimney above exerts and therefore what support is needed when removing part of the chimney breast.

Not wishing to alarm you, but it has been known for unqualified diyers to simply knock out chimney breasts leaving no support for the chimney above and the whole lot has come crashing down bringing half the house with it!!!!:eek:

Olias

marybishop

If he's taking out chimney breasts he should have got Building Regulations approval. Phone Building Control at your local council and ask if this is the case. He should also have notified you under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 of his intentions and served you notice. So he hasn't exactly gone about this in the right way. He could be setting himself up for a lot of legal expense!

daveyjp

Mary is correct - call Building Control tomorrow. They will visit and inspect the work.

brownbake

Ripping out chimney breasts and DIY are two phrases that do not marry up well!!

Basically if it hasn't been structurally surveyed by a professional your house could fall down.

It sounds like you have quite major damage as it is. If it had been done properly then this damage would have been minimal. Whatever, it is your neighbours responsibility to get the plasterers and decorators in.

You say hassle? Is it not more hassle to DIY it and fork out?

Seriously - he is undermining both your houses by doing this work. One chimney breast removed is bad enough but 2!! You will have more things to worry about than a bit of cracked plaster and paint.

GET HIM TO STOP IMMEDIATELY UNLESS YOU SEE CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS REPORTS AND EVIDENCE HE IS QUALIFIED TO DO MAJOR STRUCTRURAL CHANGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have been warned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I'd be taking the advice of the posters above.
Your'e going to fall out big time anyway when your walls start caving in.

EliteHeat

What are the qualifications needed for major structural changes?

Cazza

EliteHeat wrote: »

What are the qualifications needed for major structural changes?

In this situation, you would need to be a qualified Structural Engineer....

http://www.istructe.org/become_a_structural_engineer/Pages/default.aspx

Kiran

Cazza wrote: »

In this situation, you would need to be a qualified Structural Engineer....

http://www.istructe.org/become_a_structural_engineer/Pages/default.aspx

You don't need to be a stuctural engineer to make stuctural changes. If you are altering a chimney breast then you need to have calculations done by a structural engineer to prove your method of support is adequate for the loads being transfered from above.

Structural engineering is a very hard degree! I think most builders would struggle!