Does removing chimney breast decrease the house value?

[Cinnabunbun]

Just that really. We live in a small terraced house in London and every cm counts space wise. I'm thinking about taking all the chimney breasts out when we convert the loft. We don't use any of them and they don't contain original fireplaces or surrounds anyway.

Would you be put off buying a Victorian/Edwardian terrace house with no fireplaces?

Absolutely! If I'm interested in a period property then I'd definitely want the period features - or the ability to put reclaimed versions back in.

Yes, I'd want them, sorry. A friend of mine who is house-hunting at the moment looking for small terraced vetoed one just last week because the chimney breast had been taken out.

It's in London. The general price rise will mask any potential difference, as will an attic conversion. JFDI.

It wouldn't put me off, but lovely original features would be a selling point iyswim.

I think given you don't actually have any fireplaces etc it isn't much of a loss, and it would make the rooms feel more spacious and possibly easier to arrange furniture.

It would put me off, but assuming I had a choice I would probably be looking for one with more features than yours in the first place.
I think if I were in your position I would just do what worked for me rather than try to second guess buyers.

If you can afford it and are aiming to stay in the house long enough to get the benefit from all the hassle of building work then I wouldn't worry about future buyers. For me it would depend on the cost as well.

It depends very much on the style as well as the age of the house imo. A 'humbler' cottage style period terrace where no chimney breast means more living space is probably fine. In a bigger villa style house, you'd notice they were missing.

JFDI x 2

We had the chimney breast removed in our London house in the lounge room and it made the room so much bigger and usable. If we'd stayed we were going to take it out of dd1 room and the kitchen below.

I did want to keep our bedroom one though (was a huge room so wouldn't have benefited really)

Space is premium in London so I'd definitely say do it. Having said that I didn't have to actually live through the removal as previous owners did it.

I’d be the difference between buying it and not for me but not everyone feels the same. I’m sure someone will but it whatever you do to it.

It depends on which breasts you remove (IMO). Front rooms (lounges) people typically want them as focal points, I would say any back rooms you can remove them and open up the space.

Recently bought a Victorian semi that had all the breasts in but the fireplaces had been ripped out years ago. I kept the lounge (runs up to the main bedroom) and put 2 original fireplaces back in. I removed the rest (2) to open up the space.

Fireplaces are a far better focal point than a TV.

Depends on size of house. If it is struggle to fit furniture/wardrobes remove it.

Same as Northernspirit. Ours is a victorian townhouse so has a lower ground floor and all original features were stripped out when we bought it.

We took all the chimney breasts out in the smaller back rooms to give more space and regular shaped rooms. The kitchen is on the back of the lower ground floor so it made the layout much better.

Kept the chimney breasts in the front larger rooms. Put a reclaimed fireplace in one and another we opened up and installed a wood burner.

Fireplaces are a far better focal point than a TV.

Depends how much TV you watch

I also agree with NorthernSpirit and Brugmansia. Keeping it in the front room + a reclaimed fireplace is great, but removing it in the smaller back rooms is a great idea. Opens them out and makes the rooms easier to use.

Depending how big your master bed is I might also remove the chimney from there as well so you can have a full run of fitted wardrobes. But if it is a larger and more grand room (at least 4m x 5m) then I would keep it (plus put in reclaimed fireplace).

Except if you remove it in the upstairs rooms the ones in the lower floors are only decorative and can't be used for fires, if that's something you'd want to do.

It would put me off if it's the living room yes as that's a feature I'd want in a house from that period.

Agree with NorthernSpirit in the front room keep it any where else I don’t see the need to, especially if you are getting rid for more space

I'd be gutted if we didn't have a fire I wouldn't buy a house if it didn't have a chimney