Oven fumes from neighbours

throughtheblue

I rent a victorian flat and since new neighbours moved in to the flat below, I've been experience strong oven fumes permiating through the floor boards. This isn't the smell of food or ingredients being cooked, but the byproduct of gasses/fumes coming from the oven. The fumes lurk in the flat for a few hours, and in worst case scenarios travel into most rooms in the flat. One night their smoke alarm went off, and I could smell what I'd describe as burnt food in my flat. This was the point where I decided to discuss the problem with them. 

Firstly, I identified that it was smells when the oven was in use. They realised they had a recirculating extractor, without a filter so bought a new filter, however the recirculating extractor doesn't vent fumes physically outside of the property. Despite them installing a filter the smells became worse, as the extractor seemed to be creating an upward flow of air helping them fumes pass into our property.  The neighbours then said they would clean their oven and try no to use the extractor as much. I could still smell oven fumes, but not as strong, however after a few weeks they increased back to normal levels. I'm under the impression that their oven is a mess as they said it stung their eyes when opening it, which isn't good. 

My main question is what course of action can I take in this situation. I explained the problem to my landlord, who said this was part of living in a tenement. I personally think this is an irresponsible answer. Fumes like this are dangerous and show that smoke is entering property when it shouldn't. 
I've engaged with my neighbours twice, and although they've tried to make some adjustments, I believe the situation requires more than this. 

Can I ask them to install an extractor which actually vents out the property, or buy a self cleaning oven? Is there anything more I can ask from my landlord?

My main concern is the health issues being exposed to gasses/oven fumes on a daily basis. Me and my partner are also planning on having a child, and without getting too far ahead, this would concern me. The flat is a good size and moving would  be a big inconvenience, especially with increasing prices.  

Slithery

What do you mean exactly by 'fumes'?

If it's unburnt gas then call the gas board and they'll get it condemned. It can't be carbon monoxide as that's odourless, so apart from cooking smells or burnt food I'm not sure what else it could be?

canaldumidi

It's a neighbour issue,so not much your landlord can do. Unless of course the residents downstairs are also tenants of his. Are they tenants or owner-occupiers?

When they moved in, did they get a new oven installed? Sounds like it might be faulty in which case they should call the retailer and/or manufacturer.

As Slitery says, the 'fumes' are either food (cooking and/or burning); burnt-on crud on the inside of the oven; a manufacturing fault on eg self-cleaning material of the oven; or escaped gas;

Clearly an external extractor will help, but are they willing to get one installed? If tenants their landlord would have to do it. If owner-occpiers they'd need to pay (unless you offer!)

But a better solution is to pin down the reason for the smell and deal with that.

throughtheblue

Slithery said:

What do you mean exactly by 'fumes'?

If it's unburnt gas then call the gas board and they'll get it condemned. It can't be carbon monoxide as that's odourless, so apart from cooking smells or burnt food I'm not sure what else it could be?

No, not carbon monoxide, we have good detectors installed. 
I'd describe it as burnt food or greased built up in the oven. Hard to describe as I can't smell specifc ingredients  or certain identifiable foods being cooked. It just smells acrid, like food thats burnt, which makes me think their oven isn't clean. I read dirty ovens can create other carbon based fumes. I could ask if they could get it professionally cleaned.

throughtheblue

canaldumidi said:

It's a neighbour issue,so not much your landlord can do. Unless of course the residents downstairs are also tenants of his. Are they tenants or owner-occupiers?

When they moved in, did they get a new oven installed? Sounds like it might be faulty in which case they should call the retailer and/or manufacturer.

As Slitery says, the 'fumes' are either food (cooking and/or burning); burnt-on crud on the inside of the oven; a manufacturing fault on eg self-cleaning material of the oven; or escaped gas;

Clearly an external extractor will help, but are they willing to get one installed? If tenants their landlord would have to do it. If owner-occpiers they'd need to pay (unless you offer!)

But a better solution is to pin down the reason for the smell and deal with that.

They are owner-occupiers. I can't be certain but I don't think so. There was a smell from previous owners, but I wouldn't describe it as problematic. This seems like the same smell, but much more intense, and acrid. 
Like mentioned, the few times over the year when I smelled actual burning in the flat, their fire alarm would then go off. 

We're certain it's the oven. They told me when they were going to use the oven once, and the problematic smell appeared in our flat. Our kitchen is above theres. The issue is also how far it can spread at its worst. 

I'm unsure if they'd be willing to pay for that. They haven't been combative, but I get the impression they want to deal with it in a limited capacity. I know it's not fun spending money, but when they've set their alarm off, we've had excess fumes/smoke passing from their flat, so I believe they need to deal with it more seriously than giving the oven a scrape. 

Also, I couldn't be certain if they'd use it if I paid for an extractor for them.

spoovy

You could offer to clean their oven for them. Say it in the right "I'm only half joking" way and you might get through to them.
You could also buy a powerful air purifier, the good quality ones are amazing.

throughtheblue

spoovy said:

You could offer to clean their oven for them. Say it in the right "I'm only half joking" way and you might get through to them.
You could also buy a powerful air purifier, the good quality ones are amazing.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did consider an air purifier, but was unsure if it would handle what I'm experiencing. Sound as though it could solve the issue without further discussions.

[Deleted User]

Whilst it may be tricky to eliminate all odours, what exactly is the state of your floor? It should be some barrier. If you are trying to search for similar problems/solutions, this is similar to living above a smoker.

throughtheblue

[Deleted User] said:

Whilst it may be tricky to eliminate all odours, what exactly is the state of your floor? It should be some barrier. If you are trying to search for similar problems/solutions, this is similar to living above a smoker.

Our flat has pine floor boards. I believe the only insulation is the original wood ash. If we owned the flat, I'd take these up straight away and look at insulating and replacing the floor boards and putting down carpet. 

user1977

Sealing it from your side might be the easiest solution.

Being able to smell your neighbours' cooking is not a health hazard though.

bouicca21

I’d be tempted to offer to pay for their oven to be professionally cleaned.  It’s not particularly expensive and the results are amazing.