I've just discovered that my neighbour who has just sold his house removed all but the exposed chimney
it's a party wall
Which local gov't department do I go to to get this cowboy?
I know it's been posted before, but this is the first time I've used a computer and I don't know how to google for the answer
and if you believe that ....
Building Control
In message , Dave Jones writes
Really ?
I'm looking for a department I've never heard of building control
Usually part of the planning department
What exactly do you mean here?
They are unlikely to "get" him but ring the local district council and ask for building control (as someone else has said).
For your own purposes, if (as I assume) you believe the structural integrity of the party wall has been compromised, you should contact a surveyor yourself.
If you wish to use Google, click on "Groups" on the Google main page, then "Advanced Groups Search" and fill in appropriate boxes for the search.
This is a good place to start
Was it incorrectly supported?
Has he removed your flues as well as his own, making the chimney unusable?
Provided no damage was done in the process, the chimney is correctly supported and your flues not affected, I can't see that you would have any problem.
Christian.
================ If it's any comfort to you the remaining chimney (if / when it falls over) will probably fall onto your neighbour's house rather than yours and it's unlikely to damage the party wall when it does so. It will fall towards the unsupported side (assuming that it IS unsupported) unless there is a very strong wind.
Cic.
Also tell the new occupants so that they can sue him if he said that no work requiring building regs approval had been done to the house.
MBQ
To avoid egg on face, first check he hasn't done it properly, with all required approvals, etc.
MBQ
In message , Dave Jones writes
Planning it is then
In message , Bob Mannix writes
Yes, the chimney in the living room and the bedroom has been remover, leaving only what's in the loft
Sorry, but I was taking the piss a bit there (because I know how I would have answered)
In message , Peter Crosland writes
In message , Christian McArdle writes
ISTR that it was illegal to make any structural modifications to a party wall without consent of the other party
He has effectively left a heavy chunk of unsupported masonry on the roof, which could take ny side of the chimney down with it if it fell
In message , MBQ writes
In message , MBQ writes
That's what I want to find out
That could be done by a call to your local council's building control department.
Christian.
I don't think the Party Wall Act requires consent. It is simply a method of appointing surveyors to look after the interests of the other party. It does not provide any method for the other party to prevent works, just to ensure they are done in a structurally sound manner. There are no prescribed enforcement procedures in the act, either, so it is a bit of a paper tiger, although you may find the County Court manages to force the neighbours to make repairs.
Are there are reasons you believe the chimney to not be supported, or are you just worried in case it is not?
Christian.
In message , Christian McArdle writes
I know it's not supported
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.