Shared Chimney Stack

Light a fire............

 

Urgh. A 'shared' issue.

When you say your chimneys are 'blocked', do you mean they are fully sealed off? How are they terminated outside, and what do you have inside - what are now where the fireplaces used to be?

If you 'cap off' a chimney, you are meant to leave the outside pot ventilated, but covered to stop rain getting in. Ie - they are still meant to 'breathe'. On the inside, there should be a small vent grill fitted to allow a nice trickle of air to ventilate the flue. All this should prevent condensation forming in the flue and potential damp issues coming through your wall.

I don't know if there's a rule about how the pots are allocated - I suspect they alternate or something, but I just don't know. How can you check? Well, if you cannot find this info on t'net - how Victorian flues were arranged - then I guess it's smoke bombs!

It's all very well for your neighb to bury his head in the sand, but he should appreciate that this problem could easily be reversed.

What sort of damp issue are you having?

Bottom line - but not one you want to go to - is that you can 'force' your neighb to assist as you can 'put them on notice' that if it turns out that it's one of their flues wot's causing the damage to your house, they will be liable. Ie: at the moment they can plead ignorance, but once you make them aware of this possibility, then they can no longer plead "I didn't know..."

Not a nice route to go down, tho'.

I reckon you need a professional builder who specialise in Victorian flue designs. It'll cost to have them come out and investigate, but at least you'll know. If it turns out the problem is 'shared', then you speak to your neighb. You explain it needs to be fixed for both your sakes. Use all your pleasant persuasive powers.

If they take the attitude "It ain't my problem, guv' - get lost", then you need to appreciate you'll likely be having a falling out in the near future. What you'll need to do is to write them explaining the situation and asking for their cooperation. If they refuse by a fixed date, then you explain the only option you'll have is to continue with the repair and bill them for their part. You then use moneyclaim.gov, followed up by thesherrifsoffice to get the money.

You'll win. You'll get your money. You'll have an enemy as a neighb.