Vent through Air brick by neighbour stinks out my house

-taff

pollypenny wrote: »

There are actually. As a young EHO my son was regularly called out by householders complaining about the stink from an abattoir.

However, try complaining about normal, household cooking smells and you'll give them the best laugh ever.

I'd imagine that falls under the remit of health hazard rather than smell, because if an abbatoir is smelling worse than it normally should i.e. smelling of rotting meat, it's not doing it's job properly,

Doozergirl

GDB2222 wrote: »

We have a house built around 70 years ago. There are air vents all over it, which may have been a good idea in the era of gas fires, but make the place decidedly draughty. Our kitchen was knocked together from 3 rooms and still has 3 air bricks!

Houses built now tend to have no, or very few, air bricks, except at foundation level. I agree it's necessary to avoid condensation inside the rooms but a window can be opened when needed, rather than having a permanent vent.

New builds (average ones) have trickle vents built into all the windows and mechanical extraction of a minimum dictated level in any room producing moisture (kitchen, bathroom, utility, toilet). They will have subfloor ventilation in the form of air bricks where the house has a subfloor. Background ventilation is an essential part of Building Control, still, and an air brick is still a requirement where there is a gas fire over a certain input, I believe. It is still absolutely imperative that houses are ventilated in order to work properly.

The older the house, the more ventilation it needs because they don't have the same level of damp proofing that modern builds have. Period properties were built to breathe and they must be allowed to continue breath. Most damp problems in older houses come about when the house is 'sealed up' with modern methods.

Simply blocking up vents is poor advice. The ventilation can be replaced with more modern methods, but it should not be removed.

Lorian

Always-on background extraction fan with a backdraught shutter?

or just the back-draught shutter if its a hood vent.

Could also ask the neighbour if they have changed their carbon filter recently, but I suspect that won't be an option.....

robatwork

PotentialEnergy wrote: »

Neighbourly relations are meant to be give and take. I haven't actually said "never do it", just not so frequently. As GDB2222 suggested once a week is fine but the crappy burgers especially every day is a bit extreme IMHO.

You need to take a step back and look at this from outside your viewpoint.

Think about how frequently *would* be acceptable to you. 3 times per week? 4? Not on Sunday? Particular times of day or evening good or bad for you?

Then imagine the situation reversed - your neighbour is the one coming to you, asking you not to cook quinoa more than 3 times a week at a particular hour or whatever it is you come up with, because they have a problem with its odour.

You'd find this just as preposterous as your position.

Fire_Fox

PotentialEnergy wrote: »

To most people who read the articles, they may be a bit more understanding that someone should be seemingly outlandishly irrational as wanting to reduce meat smells. The latest shots from Aylesbury/Doozergirl's speak volumes

Neighbourly relations are meant to be give and take. I haven't actually said "never do it", just not so frequently. As GDB2222 suggested once a week is fine but the crappy burgers especially every day is a bit extreme IMHO.

No wonder this country is having an obesity epidemic.

If you have been formally diagnosed with a medical condition that makes everyday smells offensive you may be eligible to claim PIP or other disability benefits. These would enable you to adapt your home or to relocate.

Physical symptoms do not excuse you judging your neighbours' diet or lifestyle choices. IME people with particularly debilitating health issues are often the most empathetic, the least judgemental, the least patronising.

If the Western obesity epidemic keeps you up at night, I invite you to retrain in lifestyle healthcare or volunteer for lifestyle healthcare charities.

shortcrust

I think you’re being astoundingly unreasonable. The idea that you can in any way influence what your neighbours cook because of this air brick problem is totally bonkers. You’re a hair’s width away from harassment.

pollypenny

-taff wrote: »

I'd imagine that falls under the remit of health hazard rather than smell, because if an abbatoir is smelling worse than it normally should i.e. smelling of rotting meat, it's not doing it's job properly,

No. Regular summer event, with hot weather and people out in back yards.