Chimney Smoke issue

YorksTea

Hello All

Live in a small terraced property, fireplaces back onto to each other, our fire place has not been used in at least 20 years, covered with small vent to base just above the skirting. 

Last year we were smoked out by a birds nest, neighbour had chimney swept cleared all OK

This spring the birds are back, smoked out again, chimney swept,

The next time the fire was lit smoked out again. Called his sweep who advised could be a deterioration issue, (pretty sure its not lined) advised we could block have done so still getting smell upstairs and downstairs when lit, not smoked out just whiffy. Sweep asked if cracks appeared or anything to our side of the property, no cracks I can see but its an old house

Is there something I can do? Whose responsibility? Thoughts and opinions if I ask kindly

Nice neighbour, don't want to upset

Cheers
YT

YorksTea

Forgot to say Sweep did a smoke bomb test all after the nest removal, drawing perfectly OK, excuse my terminolgy, I may be wrong but it was tested

stuart45

If smoke is getting through from next door, then they need their chimney lined. Carbon Monoxide could be getting through the brickwork into your side. Ideally a sealed smoke needs to be done.

FreeBear

Get a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm fitted in the affected rooms. Your neighbour is responsible if there is any leakage of fumes from his/her fire, but if repairs are needed to the mid-feathers, then the cost should be shared. A flue liner would be cheaper, less disruptive, and be at their expense. When the liner is fitted, a cowl should be installed at the top of the pot which will prevent birds from nesting inside the chimney.

YorksTea

Thanks for the replies, 

I have one CO alarm and another arriving tomorrow, currently moving to the bedroom at night.

What would a rough cost be? Liner / Mid feathers?

Thanks again

YorksTea

Forgot to ask, 

The fire place on our side as advised is cover with small vent, should/could this be blocked off?

Guessing as its with a vent its there for a reason, but want to understand better

Thanks

stuart45

An unused and bricked up chimney needs a top and bottom vent to stop condensation forming in the flue.
The cost of a new liner depends on various factors such as the type eg thermocrete or stainless steel.
Your neighbour needs to call around some HETAS fitters for a price. 
Repairing mid feathers can be an expensive job. 

Bendy_House

YorksTea said:

Forgot to ask, 

The fire place on our side as advised is cover with small vent, should/could this be blocked off?

Guessing as its with a vent its there for a reason, but want to understand better

Thanks

Your pot is open at the top as well? Having it vented - as it should be in any case - should, I'd have thought, help to dispel any smoke that gets through as it should just up and out.

YorksTea

Definitely open at the top, ours is metal, round, with a mesh guard

We have a fire in another room, chimney lined in recent years, no issues, working good, new shared roof stack about 10 years ago. 

This problem started after a sweep removed a nest in the neighbours chimney you could see the crows entering, we had no fire in and in recent days havent as its mild.

The problem arises on the first light of the day, guessing when temp is reached its fine but after the first light its a problem, whiffy