hidden flues in block of flats - whose responsibility?

[bananacarnival]

Hello,

I'm in a complete rut and don't know which way to turn. I own a first floor flat in a block of flats built 10 years ago. The plumber is refusing to provide a gas safety cert because the flue is not visible.

I called his recommended guy out who installs inspection hatches and he couldn't find the flue outlet anywhere. I called a supposedly specialist company who find hidden flues in voids using an endoscopic device, they have installed one hatch and are planning to come back to install a further two. But he has said that the flue is running across other flats, and that "in order to get a gas safety certificate your plumber will need to write to the neighbouring flats and ask for permission to access their flues, but that if no response he can sign it off as safe as is visible from the 3 hatches in your flat. "

I've since called 2 plumbers and they said they wouldn't be prepared to give a certificate unless they could see the entire length of the flue.

I've called the service management company who have told me it's my flat, my responsibility - but these flues run across voidswhich aren't in my flat. . They've given me 'their' plumbing company details, but the man there has said that although they can fit an internal carbon monoxide detection device as a temporary solution they still need to see the outlet of the flue.

Which I can't find! It's not on my lease plans. I've written to gas safety register and they've more or less said it's the freeholders responsibility, but they won't cooperate.

I've written a strong letter warning them to resolve this within 14 days or else I hold them liable for anything that may happen, but other than this I don't know what to do!

Any advice greatly appreciated

[sourdrawers]

Combi Boiler flu I take it? What make is it? Can't the Gas engineer just fit a new one and certify that? Might be the easier option.

[bananacarnival]

It's a gloworm, yes combi... New boiler will cost 4k! Current one works fine...just need to find a way to access the flues especially the end of the flue...

[sourdrawers]

No, I mean a new flue

[sourdrawers]

where is it situated in your place? The end must be going out of an external wall somewhere. It's not visible from the outside of the building? Sorry if I'm stating the obvious here, I'm just trying to picture the problem. DP is gas engineer, he'll be back a bit later.

Is there not room to put another flue somewhere so that it takes the shortest distance and goes through the wall to the outside?

[bananacarnival]

Hi again sourdrawers, thank you for your help. The boiler is situated in an awkward place, ie as soon as you open the front door to the flat, away from any outside walls. To reach an outside wall you'd need to pass through a long L shape corridor, followed by a bedroom. It would have to go through the bedroom wall, which faces the outside wall and I don't know if I'd get permission to have a flue outlet outside as my flat is on the main road, an attractive Georgian style building...

[bananacarnival]

No, the current flue is not visible from the outside of the building unless I'm looking in the wrong place. Either way, in order to obtain a gas certificate the entire length of flue needs to be inspected and with it passing through other flats I don't know how that's possible.

Wouldn't a new flue mean ripping up the ceiling?

[sourdrawers]

Possibly it is going under the floor upstairs/ your ceiling. But they're only allowed to be a certain length, and have a certain amount of elbow joints on them, so I can't imagine it's legal if it is going that far... Of course it can go out onto a main road. We have our neighbours one next door coming out of our their extension roof about 2 metres max from our bedroom window. It must vent out somewhere. Did your gas engineer look at the front (if it's by your front door) to see if the existing flue can be cut, a new one installed, elbowed and vented outside at the front of the building somewhere descreet. Where are you located BTW?

[bananacarnival]

No, I've only had a company come along to install safety hatches so far. The first plumber didn’t say anything, just that he wouldn't service the boiler until hatches were installed. Now that they are, I still can't get a sodding certificate on account of the whole length not being visible.
I'm in Angel, Islington. North London....thanks Sourdrawers

[sourdrawers]

Would you like me to ask DP if he can have a look? We're in West London.

[90riririrriroq3903qrkfseoslpd]

Did you get to the bottom of this. I have exactly the same issue and my building management are being very unhelpful!