Are chimney breasts structural? My upstairs neighbour wants to knock hers down - will our house fall down?

[MamaChris]

My upstairs neighbour said today she wants to knock her chimney breast down. We live in a converted Victorian terrace. Her ex partner tends to do all the work on her flat, but I'm concerned about whether it would affect the structure of the building. Our fireplaces aren't bricked up, but are covered over by plywood. Does anyone know?

I think it is quite risky, you defnitely need to get expert advice. I think if you knock it down you run the risk of everything above it falling in. I think you have to put some kind of support in... but then i am recalling what i read in some DIY book five years ago, so recollection may not be entirely accurate.

but I think as a rule of thumb if you are planning on knocking anything down, get the opinion of a builder/surveyor.

If she is on the top floor the weight of the chimney will be supported on the chimney breast in her flat.

She can take it out the chimney breast but will need something put in to support the weight of the chimney above.

She needs a builder to advise her really.

Yes they are! She will need to follow Building Control Regulations. Go to the website of your local council and look at the info on Planning and Building Regulations. In fact, I'd give the planning officer there a call and ask him for advice. They're used to being called about the kind of thing. If it's a leasehold property, she also needs to get permission from the freeholder.

Do you rent or own? If you rent, then advise your landlord about it. If you own, then check your lease (presumably your ownership is leasehold) to see what it says about changes to the structure.

yes!

Yes it wil afect the structure of the building

The property's leasehold. I have good relations with the neighbour, so I guess first step is to check with her that she's doing this properly. We are just about to put flat on the market (agents due this week), and would be totally the wrong time for things to start falling down!

She will need a party wall award which means she has to pay for you to have a surveyor check structure and condition of house. Lots of websites about it (Party Wall Act).

She definitely needs to contact the Council. Their Building Control Dept should send round a structural engineer to make sure the chimney is properly supported and your house is safe. Our dept is quite friendly - they're not there to stop development but to make sure its done properly.

i am also wanting to take out my chimney breast. i got a structural engineer in and he said i will need to put big metal beams in to support the chimney and has drawn all the plans etc.

make sure your neighbour does this. osmeone i know had their house nearly fall down because of neighbours decision just to knock out the chimney breast one day

It will be covered by both building regs and the party wall act (will probably affect your neighbours to the side)

yes. My bothers friend did this and the chimny fell down and basically cut the house in half! and I'm not joking!

scary MB must talk to neighbour asap!