Chimneybreast removal - help!

[Pud2]

I live in a ground floor conversion flat in a terraced Victorian property. The people in the flat upstairs want to remove their chimney breasts (first and second floor). They need my permission. I know nothing about this. What should I be considering? Would this qualify as party wall? Should I get a solicitor?

Do you have a fireplace? Working open or gas fire in that fireplace? If it isn't on an outside wall and they remove the chimney breast above, what happens to your fire or ability to have one?

You almost certainly won't be able to have an fire or wood burner anymore if the upper chimney stack is removed. It depends on whether you care or not about that, or think any future buyers of your place might want that option.

If you are end of terrace then a wood burner might still be possible with the flue mounted outside on the end wall.

Removal of chimney breasts is also very noisy, dirty and disruptive.

If you do give permission make sure they are either removing the chimney stack outside (which might look odd) and making good the roof, or properly supporting the remaining chimney stack inside the building & roof.

Thanks. That’s really useful. No, the fireplace in my flat is completely boarded over except for a vent which will presumably exude a lot of muck if they so remove it upstairs! Do you think I need to get them to get a surveyor to look at it in my flat before the work, like you would for a party wall?

The other problem is that I’m about to put my flat in the market and this work could put off buyers which is annoying.

Try and stop them until you have sold! Also engage a surveyor paid for by both parties to advise. I would find out if your fireplace works or not. If it does or could work, I wouldn’t agree to the chimney being removed. Rather takes away the character too.

Selling your flat and buyers having the option of opening up a fireplace is a good selling point.
One thing is certain, if they remove the rest of the chimney, the fireplace is useless.
However, if you are not worried about it, you could always give them permission provided they remove yours as well (and make good). It's quite surprising how much extra room removing a chimney breast can give you.

I would check they have notified the council and building regs, as removing a chimney breast is structural work. Yes it does come under the party wall act, but you don't necessarily need a surveyor ( adds to cost and time for them, but if you are moving you don't need to worry about your relationship with them really!). As long as they are supporting the chimney stack in the roof with a steel beam and not using a gallows bracket (most local authorities don't allow these anymore) you shouldn't have any structural problems. I agree with the poster saying ask them to take yours out too! We took one of our chimney breasts out and it allowed us to create a corridor upstairs and have more space for a dining table downstairs. We left the front fireplace because we want to retain as much Victorian character as possible but also needed space!

If it takes away the ability to have a fire in the fireplace, lots of people won't buy your house.

Thank you. Great advice. This fireplace is in the bedroom and is boarded up and has shelving in the two bays. There is still a fireplace in the sitting room so I guess I need to check if this has a separate flue as that one could definitely be used and I would want it to stay.