Smell from neighbour’s stove

bargainhunter121

We live in a detached house but our neighbours house is only about 1-2 metres from ours. Our chimneys therefore are beside each other. They recently had a stove installed, but there’s quite a strong smell from it as soon as we open our back door. As our chimneys are so close together, (we have a gas fire so chimney is not blocked up) I’m worried that the fumes could be entering our living room, considering the strong smell outside. Am I overthinking this?

Cash-Cows

Anyone with a stove in the immediate vicinity will create smells in the air. I cannot imagine you will have your door open very much so I doubt it will be an issue. 

twopenny

How recent?

Could it be the newness of the instalation that is causing the smell?

But as long as you can only smell it outside that's not so bad. The chimney should have been inspected and then  lined so there should be no leakage into yours

ElephantBoy57

When I visited the Lake District there was lots of stoves creating smoke, because it was a still day the smoke lingered.

Does your neighbours stove use the same chimney as the fire?

bargainhunter121

I think it was installed around August, but has only recently started being used. Just to clarify we have separate chimneys. Sorry if this is just me being over anxious, I’m just not used to the smell.

beduth

How can the fumes leak into your chimney? If you don’t like the smell outside, close your windows. 

FreeBear

In the winter, I'll sometimes catch a whiff of wood smoke from neighbours when they light their respective fires. It is something that has never caused a concern.

EssexExile

We can sometimes smell next doors woodburner in the house. As we have lots of holes, chimneys and vents, we just have to live with it. If you can only smell it outside I don't see the problem.

bargainhunter121

Ok, so long as there’s no health issues,  that’s fine. 

Davesnave

bargainhunter121 said:

Ok, so long as there’s no health issues,  that’s fine. 

 That's an unknown. If the neighbour is using a DEFRA-approved appliance and burning approved fuel then there is no law you can invoke. The only action you could take would be to install a positive input ventilator in your house to stop fumes being drawn in from outside.

We have a neighbour who burns the very smelly type of house coal that is due to be banned in February 2021 so supply is ceasing. His chimney is a good 15m from the nearest edge of our property. He is bemoaning the fact that logs or other types of legal fuel will cost twice as much. We are secretly celebrating!

Apintplease

Out here in the country, near enough everyone has a fire or stove for heat and hot water and on still days the smell can be very pungent outside, esp when you aren't used to it

But then they spread slurry so the smell of smoke pales into insignificance