Apologies if this is in the wrong place.
I'm purchasing a typical 1930's semi which needs fairly extensive 'modernising'. I have a decent but modest budget for doing the work.
Previously, the pair of houses have had their chimneys removed. The neighbouring property also had their chimney breasts removed (I discovered this through snooping looking at the pictures on Rightmove's sold prices) but my property still has the chimney breasts in place, albeit plastered over. The houses still have a chimney stack which I presume is just there for aesthetic reasons.
When I looked round the house, the son who is selling the house (it's a probate property following the passing of his father) let me have a peek in the loft as he wanted me to see that when the chimney work was done the appropriate steelwork was installed in the loft to support the remaining chimney. I didn't take a photo at the time but I'll try to attach a similar photo of how things appear in the loft.
My question (after all that preamble 
) is this: Can I reinstate my side of the chimney so that I can install a log burner fire, given that it would be on a shared wall and the neighbouring property has removed theirs?
If nobody knows the answer to this, does anyone know who I could ask for reliable advice?
Thanks all - any help is much appreciated.