Listed Building Consent to move boiler flue

[Lime]

Google Sketchup may help with the plans.

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/vnunet/downloads/2158715/google-sketchup-295-free

 

[vanhelgan]

Excellent. Thanks for the software suggestions. Will have a go with those and see what I can make work best. I've also just received an email from the CO saying she has no objections to our proposals so things are starting to look up! I assume I still need to wait for the formal consent to come through before starting the work though?

 

[Nemesis]

I would now e-mail the CO back and ask if the work on the heating could be looked at as an emergency, explain the situation...

 

[AMc]

Carbon Monoxide is tasteless and odourless, you fall asleep then you die - a faulty grill took the lives of two of my brother in laws friends and landed him in a decompression chamber I wouldn't mess about with it.

Buy a couple powered Carbon Monoxide alarms and put them in the bathroom (batteries) and boiler room/adjacent living space (uses a mains one). Don't waste your time with the unpowered detectors you want to know when/if there is CO present when it happens not after the fact.
e.g. http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=CARBON+DETECTOR+&selected=products

Use the boiler carefully, make sure its ventilated externally as best you can and heed the alarms, you should be alright for the short period of time to get through the LBC. I wouldn't run the boiler while you sleep.

 

[vanhelgan]

Well, we replied to the CO to ask whether we would be able to view it as an emergency and have just had a reply - no. I have managed to come up with some pretty decent sketches using google sketchup. I think they're pretty decent anyway, it remains to see whether the council planning department will agree!

When we move in we have decided to keep the door to the boiler room closed and the window open and we will invest in several carbon monoxide alarms as well as not running the boiler at all whilst we sleep.

Thanks to all for the help and advice.

 

[Nemesis]

Oh well - but at least you will have some heat. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Me!]

a faulty grill took the lives of two of my brother in laws friends and landed him in a decompression chamber I wouldn't mess about with it.

You've got me worried now. Do you mean grill as in ventillation grill (blocked perhaps?) or grill as in the thing I use to cook bacon?

 

[vanhelgan]

Will certainly let you know how we get on.
In search of the silver lining ... would this class as a zero-VAT rated 'approved alteration'? Is it too simplistic to assume that if LBC is required then the VAT is zeroed?

 

[Carol]

Godd luck with your plans. I have done four applications myself including some drawings and our council have been very helpful and supportive, They actively encourage DIY applications from householders it seems and spelled out what I needed quite carefully. If your local council have online applications you can look at others doing the same or similar work for 'key phrases' to borrow.

Once your plans are in they may be able to speed things up if requested.
I think you need to use a VAT registered builder to get the VAT off others may know more!

 

[Flyfisher]

I've had plumbing, electrical and building work done for LBC'ed works, all without VAT being charged. The key is to discuss with your contractor(s) before appointing them to confirm they're happy to omit the VAT. If they have worked on listed buildings before then they should be familiar with the VAT exemption rules. In my experience they will require a copy of the LBC for their files so that they can justify not charging the VAT in case their books are inspected. As far as I'm aware, you cannot reclaim any VAT once it is paid, hence the importance of discussing with your contractor(s) beforehand to ensure VAT is not added to the invoice.

 

[vanhelgan]

Thanks! I'll have a chat with the installer in the next few days about the VAT, and I guess if the drawings are not up to scratch we shall also find out shortly.
Will keep you posted

 

[AMc]

...grill as in the thing I use to cook bacon?

As in the thing they used to cook food on after an extended drinking session. The two in the room with the faulty gas grill fell asleep and never lived to regret it, my brother in law was in another room got taken by air ambulance to a decompression chamber in Portsmouth which saved his life.

I have CO alarms in the boiler room and the front room with the wood burner in it.