Removal of chimney breast

FreeBear

ck7ah wrote: »

The homebuyers survey stated the chimneys were removed but nothing else.

Was it just a basic mortgage Co. provided survey or a full blown structural ?
If the chimneybreast removal is undocumented, what other notifiable work has been done without approval ?

Wanna see the result of dodgy work ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF1pHzGkSC4

ck7ah

FreeBear wrote: »

Was it just a basic mortgage Co. provided survey or a full blown structural ?
If the chimneybreast removal is undocumented, what other notifiable work has been done without approval ?

Wanna see the result of dodgy work ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF1pHzGkSC4

It was a basic mortgage survey, not structural.
The other extension that he did has got the plans and building control certificates etc and that was done in 2014.

The chimney collapse looked bad!

Smodlet

ck7ah wrote: »

It was a basic mortgage survey, not structural.
The other extension that he did has got the plans and building control certificates etc and that was done in 2014.

The chimney collapse looked bad!

Not sure you can make them look good... Unless perhaps to a Fred Dibnah fan.

Well done for spotting this, OP. Is it really worth the hassle or did you have a project in mind before you began your search? Personally, I'd look elsewhere for something whose chimney breasts are still present. Someone could die, after all, the most likely candidates being anyone directly underneath.

Good luck and please let us know the outcome; it could help someone else.

ck7ah

Smodlet wrote: »

Not sure you can make them look good... Unless perhaps to a Fred Dibnah fan.

Well done for spotting this, OP. Is it really worth the hassle or did you have a project in mind before you began your search? Personally, I'd look elsewhere for something whose chimney breasts are still present. Someone could die, after all, the most likely candidates being anyone directly underneath.

Good luck and please let us know the outcome; it could help someone else.

I was planning on doing a loft conversion on this property hence was worried that if the chimney breasts were not removed correctly, i could end up with issues.

To be honest, i prefer no chimney breasts as you get more space in the rooms.

The inspector is coming on monday, so will let you know what happens. The vendor seems to believe that he will have a certificate by Wednesday.

lewisa

If you're planning on doing a loft then did you look in the loft?

If the job was done correctly there will be a larger height of stack remaining in the loft space than the height of the external stack itself, and this stack in the loft will be supported by a gallows bracket. This will usually all be visible in the loft unless it's been boxed in as part of a conversion etc.

Don't quote me on that, and I'm entirely unqualified to say anything on this subject, but that's the basic rules and what to look out for in lofts of houses that have had breasts removed but the stack remains.

staffie1

When I was buying my current house (which I’m now selling), the survey picked up that the kitchen/dining room wall had been removed (but no other comment). Vendor said on PIF that building regs were not required.
During enquires through solicitors, I asked whether wall was load bearing. Answer was no. I’m no expert, but common sense told me that as there was a bedroom wall directly above, it probably was load bearing. I asked again if it was load bearing, and the answer came back ‘yes’.

There was no record of building regs on council planning portal, so I asked the seller to obtain retrospective approval. All went quiet for 2 wks. Then I told my solicitor I was going to pull out. Within 48 hrs, the seller got a structural engineer on site who removed a section of plaster to check. There was an appropriate RSJ and I got the full report, with calculations and retrospective approval from the council all within 2 wks.
It cost the seller £1,000, which he was not happy about. But I wasn’t going to risk the roof coming down on my head one day, and now I’m selling, all the paperwork is in order.

ck7ah

lewisa wrote: »

If you're planning on doing a loft then did you look in the loft?

If the job was done correctly there will be a larger height of stack remaining in the loft space than the height of the external stack itself, and this stack in the loft will be supported by a gallows bracket. This will usually all be visible in the loft unless it's been boxed in as part of a conversion etc.

Don't quote me on that, and I'm entirely unqualified to say anything on this subject, but that's the basic rules and what to look out for in lofts of houses that have had breasts removed but the stack remains.

I wanted to look in the loft however the estate agent said they are not insured in case I fall down but I did manage to open the hatch and take a peak but couldn't see anything significant as I wasn't on a ladder.

ck7ah

staffie1 wrote: »

When I was buying my current house (which I’m now selling), the survey picked up that the kitchen/dining room wall had been removed (but no other comment). Vendor said on PIF that building regs were not required.
During enquires through solicitors, I asked whether wall was load bearing. Answer was no. I’m no expert, but common sense told me that as there was a bedroom wall directly above, it probably was load bearing. I asked again if it was load bearing, and the answer came back ‘yes’.

There was no record of building regs on council planning portal, so I asked the seller to obtain retrospective approval. All went quiet for 2 wks. Then I told my solicitor I was going to pull out. Within 48 hrs, the seller got a structural engineer on site who removed a section of plaster to check. There was an appropriate RSJ and I got the full report, with calculations and retrospective approval from the council all within 2 wks.
It cost the seller £1,000, which he was not happy about. But I wasn’t going to risk the roof coming down on my head one day, and now I’m selling, all the paperwork is in order.

If you didn't raise it then the next buyer would have. As your were close to exchange it made sense for him to do it. Sellers need to put themselves in your shoes as they would probably ask the same questions

FreeBear

lewisa wrote: »

Iand this stack in the loft will be supported by a gallows bracket.

Most (all ?) authorities no longer accept gallows brackets as being adequate to support a chimney stack. Quite how long this has been the case, I wouldn't like to say.

Karl.P

As the house is semi detached, is this chimney stack shared with the neighbours? If yes it gets a lot more "interesting", as the neighbours structures will need to be considered, along with" party wall" and potential safety issues (heat and fumes) if the stack is still in use (or could be put back into use).