Neighbor's boiler / flue waste gases enter my flat

Leethos

Hi, the flue shouldn’t cause a nuisance and it is potentially in breach of building regs if it does so. As part of the installation the gas engineer is responsible for ensuring that any issues caused by the plume from the flue doesn’t cause issues. I’ve copied in a piece from an article below which explains this. Getting it remedied in the first instance should be down to the installer but if you are unable to or don’t feel comfortable in this you can speak to building control.

Nuisance pluming
A major consideration for any heating engineer is the siting of the flue terminal to prevent it from causing a nuisance to neighbours. BS5440-1 states that the flue from a condensing boiler should not be installed where it is likely to cause a nuisance. This could be the condensate cloud exiting a boiler flue terminal across a neighbouring driveway or pluming above a pavement.

While manufacturers provide detailed guidance on permissible lengths of the flue and BS5440 Part 1 gives minimum clearances for flue terminal siting, every installation is different. Therefore, installers should always pay close attention to the siting of the flue terminal to avoid putting the homeowner in the unenviable position of having to get the nuisance flue re-sited.

Options are available to installers when re-siting the flue is not a viable option. Flue accessories, such as plume displacement kits and plume deflectors, can be used to point the pluming away from the area that it is likely to cause an issue.

Jeepers_Creepers

Nice post, Leethos - thanks.

Chant even brought the likely issue to the installer's attention, but he was seemingly very dismissive.

What you could do in the first instance, Chanterelles, is write your neighb a note, make it clear they are not to blame in any way, but cite the above article from Leethos and add that you did bring the potential issue to the installer's attention at the time and he was dismissive. Sadly it's even worse than your feared - acrid exhaust smell, occasional smell of unburnt gas (if that's the case), and a very intrusive visible plume. Ask them to kindly contact their installer to address this, or for the name of the installer so you can take it up directly with them yourself.

See what transpires. If nothing good, call up your council and they'll point you in the right direction - Build Control or Env Health.

Annnnd - keep us posted :-)

Rosa_Damascena

Nothing constructive to add OP, just my sympathies with your situation.

unforeseen

As the building appears to belong to a housing association then those are the people to speak to. Flat occupant has no connection with the installer as he would have been contracted by the HA to replace a boiler that they have responsibility for. 

Chanterelles

unforeseen said:

As the building appears to belong to a housing association then those are the people to speak to. Flat occupant has no connection with the installer as he would have been contracted by the HA to replace a boiler that they have responsibility for. 

Thanks, but it’s a case of leasehold ownership, HA approved holes in the wall for the owner/occupier.

Chanterelles

I am ever so grateful for your help and advise. The Housing Association never replied or did anything. 
The neighbour was quite understanding to my surprise and invested in an extension of the flue. 
Even though it all depends on which direction the wind blows from, I feel at peace that the minimum that could be done was done. Thanks again, could not have done it without you!!!

Rosa_Damascena

Chanterelles said:

I am ever so grateful for your help and advise. The Housing Association never replied or did anything. 
The neighbour was quite understanding to my surprise and invested in an extension of the flue. 
Even though it all depends on which direction the wind blows from, I feel at peace that the minimum that could be done was done. Thanks again, could not have done it without you!!!

I'm glad that you grasped the nettle and were pleasantly surprised. Thanks for telling us what happened.

I love a happy ending

Jeepers_Creepers

Indeed. And thanks for the update, Chant, and even tho' it might not be perfect, it's great to hear of a positive result, and one that was acted on by reasonable folk.

Basically, it's nice to hear they still exist