How do I stop the smell from next door!

cepheus

I live in a modern back to back house. This means it is effectively joined on the side and back. Most days there is a garlic stench throughout my house from my neighbours cooking, although it is strongest in the bathroom and landing which have no windows and is adjoined to the house at the back. The noise insulation is awful but it is virtually non existent in the bathroom. The bath adjoins the wall but I am not sure what is under the bath since a panel seals this off.

I cannot work out how the smell is getting through, although the attic stenches as well. The attic is isolated from the other houses with bricks although the cement is falling away in parts. The attic is closed by a hatch on the landing although I am not sure how well sealed this is. All the houses will have a bathroom fan extractor, if the pipe is disconnected or leaks, activation of this fan could fill their attic with the smell. There is a gap along the Bannister's in the adjoining wall but I assume there is a brick wall behind

Unfortunately my relations with my neighbour is not good due to noise problems so the only feasible solution is to find the gap and seal it. Have any of your DIYs any ideas how air can move from one adjoined house to the next? I have no idea if they use an extractor fan in the kitchen and if so how this is ventilated

PS if anyone is frightened of vampires I will offer a house swap!

ramborai1987

post some air freshner through their post box. they'll get the hint eventually lol

HugoSP

Smells should not be able to get through.

firstly you don't say whether you own or rent the house. From your last para I suspect it's a council house. If it is then it's their responsibility to sort it.

Having said that it could be coming in your windows or other ventalaition. It ma be coming in via roof vents etc.

Without looking its a tricky one.

cepheus

The adjoining house is rented out privately. The people who own it were not helpful when I mentioned noise problems, so I doubt if they would do anything for this. However, in theory smell should be easier to stop than noise, its just a matter of finding where. There are no windows in the locations where the smell is strongest.

Regarding vents someone has mentioned this to me before as a possible source, However, I cannot see any and I have lived here for 15 years.

I own my house.

HugoSP

In that case I would be looking at the fire break in the roof space between the two houses.

If you find any gaps, foam them.