Home Buyers Report - Gallow Bracket needed

AustinB

Hi everyone,

Just got result of homebuyers on house i am buying (1920's build) and the one major issue is that a chimney breast has been removed in the loft and that I need to get a builder to put a gallow bracket in to support the chimney as currently just being supported by the neighbours property

Few questions on this Surveyour said should cost around 300-400 is this realistic? Is this a common issue with older properties? How worried should I be?

Also I think it is reasonable for the seller to foot the bill for this I am paying above the asking price already but i dont want to jepordise everything by being aggressive on this point. How likely do you think the seller will agree to pay the costs of this? The estate agent have told me to instruct the builder but should the vendors not be doing this?

Thanks

Austin

clutton_2

its quite common... i would get a couple of quotes from local builders to see if the £3-400 is right.. seems a bit expensive to me - but it depends on the part of the country you are in also...

if you are buying a house it is Caveat Emptor - Buyer B eware... you can ask the Vendor to pay - but it is not obligatory for him to do so

you could suggest splitting the cost 50/50

if YOU instruct bulders to do the work.. you pay

good luck

BeauBelle

Hi

We had a gallows bracket fitted recently and it cost us £100 for the steelwork and £100 to fit it. We are in Essex.

It seemed to be a simple job for the builder. I would say your surveyors estimate is a bit high.

Hope it helps

BB

AustinB

Thanks for both replies....one other thing i am confused about after reading about this topic on the internet is does the following apply:-

Is the proposal acceptable to other parties with an interest in the party wall to which the chimney is attached? This is a civil matter subject to the provisions of the Party Wall etc Act 1996

Should the builder i get round for an estimate check with the neighbours if they have any objections a gallow bracket being installed in this property and also check to see if they currently have support in place or also have a gallow bracket installed? Or is this not necessary?

My Surveyor said on our phone call that how things stand he thinks building reg's have been breached so once i get a builder round to assess things do i then need to submit an application to the council (Regularisation Certificate?) to get a certificate saying that the new chimney support is now compliant with Building Reg's?

Thanks in advance

Austin

clutton_2

""do i then need to submit an application to the council (Regularisation Certificate?) to get a certificate saying that the new chimney support is now compliant with Building Reg's? ""

it will help you when you come to sell it if you do have regs...

silvercar

If you are working on a party wall then you need to notify the neighbours. There are also safety issues, you want your gallows bracket to be supporting your chimney only, not to upset the whole balance.

Whether your neighbours need a gallows bracket in place depends on whether they have removed the chimney breast in their upstairs or downstairs and retained the chimney. Sounds obvious, but you only need to support the chimney if you have removed the chimney breast and retained the chimney. If your neighbour still has the chimney breasts then they support the chimney. Similarly if they have removed the chimney breasts and the chimney, there is nothing left that needs supporting.

You could investigate whether it would be cheaper to remove the chimney rather than install a bracket.

poppysarah

Ask them to do it before you buy.

It's no so much "oh it'll only cost" ... but the ag and potential for diaster and mess.