Barbecues on terraces. Yes or No

[PerhapsPerhapsMaybe]

What are your thoughts on barbecues on terraces?

There are in total 25 apartments in the block. Each apartment has its own small outdoor terrace.

One of the residents often has a barbecue on theirs. Other residents complain about the smell and potential fire hazard.

The barbecuing resident cannot find anything in the lease that prohibits this.

The complaining neighbours cite common sense and consideration.

who is right?

Balcony fires are very dangerous. Fire can spread from one to the next and into other flats.
But whether permitted or not depends on if they are wood, if fire could spread easily, if the outer walls are combustible etc
May well not be covered on insurance

I think what OP means is the flat all have balconies - but the ground floor call it a terrace because it’s not a balcony if it’s on the ground floor. And yes, with all the windows open, the smell of smoke would be awful because these flats are usually tiny.

Op can you be a little clearer. Where in the building does this bbq resider live, is it the top floor, middle floor, bottom floor. Second of fourth floor?

Consult your insurers.
Insurers will say HELL NO!
You will then, collectively, be obliged to add an amendment to the rules.
Argument over.

I've got a terrace which is the same size as the room below. Above is only my own house.
You mean a balcony right? I guess you need to do it and see where the smoke goes and if anyone complains. Be prepared to stop doing it if it causes issues.

A terrace would be fine. A balcony less so.

A terrace really isn’t fine. Up until a few years ago we were allowed them - or at least nothing in the lease to say we couldn’t. Then letters were issued to all residents and my neighbour ignored theirs. Cut to massive fire when a charcoal barbecue was left unattended last year. It could have gotten really out of hand but thankfully someone saw it - the barbecue was unattended at night, ffs!

It’s definitely a health and safety issue. It takes just one fire.

Do you mean balconies? Terraces are usually understood to be on the ground floor.

Could also be an open rooftop.

Yay from me and very common ime

Yes. This.

It’s top floor, shared by 4 other flats on the same level.

the smoke does travel down. I am in a flat immediately below and I have to close my windows otherwise the smell permeates my flat.

No, it's dangerous and the stench from barbecues is disgusting.

Ok I’ll get off the fence.

I hate the bbq

it stinks

it’s a fire hazard

anyone who thinks it’s ok is a social menace

🤣 you are the opposite of the flat living I experienced - young carefree social people. The antipodens bbq’d x3 a day

If its a gas BBQ then ... well ... you are wrong, they are highly dangerous (fas bottles). Having said that I know someone who got killed by a non-gas BBQ and couple of years ago ... moron in attendance.

I think there are two slightly different issues here. It’s worth checking the lease carefully, including any general clauses about nuisance or annoyance rather than just looking for a specific ban on barbecues.

Even if there isn’t an express ban, that doesn’t necessarily mean someone can use a barbecue in a way that causes a serious problem for neighbours. On the other hand, an occasional BBQ and some cooking smells are part of normal life, so it isn’t automatically a nuisance just because somebody dislikes it.

A lot probably depends on how often it’s happening, how much smoke there is, how close the terraces are and how much it is actually affecting the other flats.

This explains the nuisance side quite well, including barbecues:

https://thesilverbrief.blog/nuisance-smells-from-neighbours/

Personally, with 25 small terraces close together, I’d favour some sensible agreed rules rather than either an outright ban or everyone simply doing as they please.

You were never on the fence, you knew you already hated it before making this thread

Your lack of insight is frightening. You can’t see how a BBQ that contains hot charcoals, is ignited with lighter fuel, has the ability to topple over, has oil / grease that goes on fire is no more dangerous than smoking on a terrace?? Come on

So is it the smell, smoke or fire hazard that concerns you?

The fire from our neighbour’s barbecue on their terrace could have killed us all. It went from nought to sixty in minutes. All those going: yeah, not a problem, crack on - have a word with yourselves.

If it hadn’t been seen by a different neighbour - was 11 o clock at night - we might be dead. The fire service was here for hours dismantling the roof to make sure no embers were left burning.

Not hyperbole: truth.

People are so fucking selfish.

Shall we check with London Fire Brigade? They might know a thing or two about fires.

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/cooking/bbqs/

How to stay BBQ safe
If you do BBQ at home – it is important to check you have taken the right safety precautions.

• Don’t use a BBQ on a balcony. Flames, sparks and hot embers can cause a fire and spread quickly to other parts of the building.
• Position your BBQ on level ground (not decking) and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire such as sheds, fences or trees.
• Never light a barbecue in an enclosed space and don’t use accelerants to get it going.
• Avoid distractions from people around you and never leave the BBQ unattended.
• Avoid drinking alcohol if you are in charge of the BBQ.
• Keep children, pets and garden games a safe distance from the BBQ. Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergency use.
• After cooking, let it cool and make sure it is properly out – smouldering ashes can give off dangerous carbon monoxide fumes and can be fatal.

Ha ha, I’m in Australia and if you look at most apartments, you would be hard pressed to find one without a gas BBQ on the balcony.

ETA we don’t have fires and buildings burning down all over the place. We do have plentiful BBQ related injuries though, I saw quite a lot over the years, as most BBQ’s here involve alcohol (cultural). To be fair, it all seemed to be adults, men, didn’t have kids cross my path with injuries.

It's fine. What's the point in having a terrace if you can't do normal outdoor activities on it?

I think this falls very clearly into the "common sense" category. It is dangerous and incredibly inconsiderate.