Shared chimney repair

PMMLondon

Hi there 
Please can I call upon you for some advice following receipt of my homebuyers report. One issue that was flagged as a non-immediate repair was repointing the shared chimney stack. The surveyor wrote that the stack requires re-pointing as it is fairly weathered. In conversation with the surveyor before I received the report, he said that he would advise me to speak to the neighbour to see if we could go halves on the work.
Now I’ve seen the report, I’m wondering:
1) if the neighbour is not bothered about doing the work, would it be pointless (if you’ll excuse the pun) just to do the half on my side?
2) would this work be subject to a Party Wall Agreement?

3) is this something you’d ask for the vendor to knock money off for? 

4) any idea of the cost? The surveyor said it was be a quick job taking a couple of hours.
5) is it madness to ask the vendor to sort?

In case it’s relevant, the house has been on the market since February. I offered £7k under asking price and he was happy to accept. There were several other issues mentioned too, but this is the one that’s worrying me due to the involvement on the third party.

Your advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

NameUnavailable

I think this is another standard thing the surveryor slaps on any survey, like have the electrics checked or a timber report.

What does the chimney look like to you? is there any damp around the chimney breasts? Are the chimney's in use? How old is the house and how easy or not is it to get to the chimney?

Personally, unless it looks like it's about to fall down and there's no damp issues I would earmark it as a job to do at some time in the future, maybe when the guttering is cleaned or a roof tile needs replacing etc.

hazyjo

Mine got flagged in a survey. Didn't cross my mind to speak to the owners of the adjoining semi.

Same neighbour did however knock to tell us we had two massive weeds growing out a crack in the brickwork by the chimney - mainly cos they're trying to sell their house atm. Bloody cheeky really, I think they should've said they'd split the cost.

Anyway, got a bloke with long ladders who does roof repairs and he nipped up with weed killer, and rendered some of the chimney and filled in various cracks, and sorted a slipped tile.

Charged £100.

PMMLondon

Thanks for your replies.
The chimney concerned is on the opposite side of the house to the chimney breasts and not in use. The house is 1900s. The chimney the other side (not shared) has been repointed in the recent past and there are no concerns with it. 

hazyjo

Same. Mine's not in use, and it's Edwardian. My other chimney on the non-adjoining side is fine.

PMMLondon

Hopeful bump for any further responses!