Neighbour's Chimney Leaks into our Bedroom.

ioang

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I live on a terrace and our neighbour’s chimney is leaking smoke into our bedroom. This often involves only a fairly intense smell of smoke (horrible) but we also noticed one night a smokey haze in the room. We obviously want to get this sorted.

I’ve discussed it with the neighbour and it turns out he’s never got the chimney swept. I was wondering where I stand. The chimney is on the party wall but it is not shared. It’s his chimney. He originally accepted it was his responsibility but has since come back to me querying whether perhaps this was a party-wall issue and we both should pay.

Anyway, those are legal issues – on a DIY basis, any advice on finding the cracks letting the smoke into our house? We can see nothing at all; it just seems to diffuse into that room.

Thanks again,
Ioang.

ariba10

Have you looked in the attic.

Most times smoke in the bedrooms comes from where the flue passes through the attic. (There is normaly no render on the brickwork in the attic)

Easier to remedy?

ioang

Thanks for the advice, but I'm afraid that can't be the case as the leak happens on the first flour and the attic is on the third floor - and the room on the second floor is smoke free.

nickj_2

i would install a carbon monoxide alarm asap , http://www.bing.com/search?q=leaking+chimneys+co2&form=MOZSBR
it is not just gas fires/boilers that give off c/m ,

he may just need to get the chimney lined , it's his responsibility if it's coming in to your house

teneighty

From a party wall aspect I would suggest it depend where the flue is, if it is set into the thickness of the party wall which is quite rare your neighbour has a point. If the flue is set into a chimney breast built up against the party wall, which is far more common, then it is your neighbour's sole responsibility and they need to get the flue re-lined.

Obviously leaking flue gases are extremely hazardous and possibly fatal so your neighbour must stop using the flue until it is made safe.

gas4you

As said above.

This needs sorting asap.

The longer it is left, the more chance of you not waking up one morning very soon!

macman

If he's not even prepared to start by paying for a chimney sweep, then you're going to struggle to get him to do any other work.
Working chimneys should be swept annually, when was this one last done?

Biggles

You do need to get a carbon monoxide alarm immediately.

Never mind about the smell, this is potentially deadly.

LadyDee

Can you ask a Fire Safety Officer from the local fire station to come and have a look at it?

ioang

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

I should have added that he's being very nice about it and isn't going to light a fire until it's sorted. And I have a carbon monoxide alarm. I just guess what I really need is a piece of legislation that says it's his responsibility (or joint, I guess!). Then I don't really mind how he fixes it, though a flue liner seems like the best option.

macman

What 'legislation' do you need? A neighbour's chimney leaking into your house gives clear grounds for a civil action against him for cessation and damages, if he won't fix it.
It's not a party wall issue, as each side will have it's own chimney flue and stack.