chimney structural advice needed

[plasticpigeon]

Hullo people.

I would be grateful for people's opinions. I live in a modest sized Edwardian terraced house. The back of the back addition shares a chimney with the neighbouring property. This means that about half the width of the back wall of the back addition is actually the flues for the chimney (6 in total, 3 for each house). The external wall of the chimney is only a half brick thick and the bricks are only very loosely held together as the lime mortar has disintegrated rather. The neighbour is going to be taking out their chimney breast upstairs leaving their back wall only a half brick thick. I believe they have put some kind of metal shelf in the loft space to support the stack but will removing the chimney breast leaving only a very weak and slightly bulging half brick wall to support the stack a structural issue??? I really don't understand why people buy old houses and do this, I'm sure there are newer places of similar size and similar price within spitting distance of me!

 

[Lime]

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/partywall

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm not keen on getting into a dispute, I guess I've known they were going to do this for a while but never thought hard about how they would do it and what effect it would have. I think they rather like using a sledge hammer. I'd be happy if I knew a structural engineer of building control had looked at it!

 

[Flyfisher]

Well, it's very easy to avoid a dispute . . . just do nothing and let them sledgehammer away.

Seriously though, the party wall legislation exists to protect people and properties in these sorts of situations. By law, a neighbour must serve you with notice under the Party Wall Act 1996 and you can employ a surveyor to safeguard your property and all the costs (I believe) are borne by the neighbour.

As you might expect, there are specialist party wall surveyors and some useful info here: http://www.fpws.org.uk/explanatory.aspx

 

[plasticpigeon]

Many thanks for the advice and links to the documents, they will be useful I'm sure. I just spoke to the neighbours and luckily they have decided against removing the chimney breast that adjoins mine as the back wall is only a half brick wall, so I can rest easy now!!!