Chimney & Fireplace

My neighbour wants to remove our chimney breast

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.58 PM

Hi My Builders We live in a Victorian semi-detached house and have a beautiful solid fuel working fire and a rayburn using this chimney breast. He called us around to say he was doing some adjustments to his home and he wanted to extend the loft room right back to the wall. He said there are some cracks in his chimney breast and supporting wall and he thinks our shared chimney breast may have to come down! My family would be devastated. This is his preferred option, however, because he wants the space that it is taking up. He said that he is getting a friend of a friend who is a structural engineer to come round to look at it and he may say the whole thing needs to come down. What do we do? I am so worried and also concerned that he may just knock it about a bit more to look worse than it is. If it is cracked then I would rather pay to have it reinforced or repaired. Our part is behind wooden cladding but I am happy to remove that if it needs to be inspected. Who do I call to help me? Warmest regards and hoping for help... Lucy