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I live in a semi, the neighbour had a wood burner installed and it is leaking smoke into our house. I informed her politely on Thursday that it is really bad. She acknowledged the issue and said she has some one coming to look at it next week. She then agreed not to use it until it is sorted.
I have just returned from a night shift to a house full of smoke. I went round and she isn't even home. I can see the log burner through the window blazing away.
What can I do. The stuff in my loft is ruined and I can't breath let alone sleep.
My google foo is weak and I cannot find the relevant regulations.
cheers folks
If theres smoke then theres Carbon Monoxide too I imagine ...
Immediate intervention required ...
cowboy installer ?
phone the council
and yes get it sorted ASAP.
she sounds like a **** big time , obviously has no idea the implications of what she is doing.
meanwhile keep your windows open to ensure you dont keal over !
Phone the fire brigade, report smoke in your house. They'll put it out...,
House full of smoke! Fire Brigade surely. Smoke inhalation is nasty and you don't know if the smoke is a fire waiting to happen.
Neighbour sounds like a right silly ignorant cow IMO
I'd be putting a carbon monoxide alarm in somewhere firstly.
Secondly , I'd be playing holy **** with them.
Thirdly, call HETAS and see if they can help.
Building control mate, that's a health and safety issue, they will condemn it. Alternatively the fire brigade might help. Make sure you look after yourself, quite easy to get overcome by CO. Hope it gets sorted soon.
Black your face out and go around explaining that it's getting serious now.
I have the windows open. My misses went to work at 5.30 so she was ok luckily.
I just can't believe it. There is clearly no liner in a flu designed for a gas fire.
Who regulates these things? Who do I turn to? The Firebrigade?
can you be sure the chimneys not on fire ..... your house is full of smoke .... cave in her door and put the fire out for your "safety".
she will get the hint.
Drac that at least made me smile.
Who are HETAS?
Trail_rat +1
There are reasons why wood burners need to be properly installed. I can't believe she lit it again!
hetas are the regulatory body for stove instalations.
Fire brigade now and get yourself anyone else, and any pets out of the building
Trail rat, I like your thinking. Only I will still have to live next to her when this issue gets resolved. The selfish woman*.
Please replace * with expletive of choice
I'd get on to your insurance company reporting smoke damage.
That's terrible mate, sounds like a bodge job. As others have said, it need reporting to building control.
.... cave in her door and put the fire out for your "safety".
nah, get the Firebrigade to do that, otherwise there'll be a lot of questions to be answered
wee in her flues.
he he heh.. you said semi..
I went round and she isn't even home
are you sure she's not dead upstairs 😉 I'd be very concerned. Enough to call someone / take action enough to check.
Not sure bashing her doors in yourself would be a good idea. Best let someone else handle that! 😉
flipiddy .....
i have to say it......
depends if its her back doors or not 😉
got a ladder? - pour a bucket of water down her chimney 😀
flipiddy - Member
Not sure bashing her doors in yourself would be a good idea.
Indeed, pretty sure that "smash her doors in" chat brings out the ban-hammer these days 😉
Looks like insurance, make sure they chase her for it. Can't see anybody but the firebrigade being allowed to enter th house under these circumstances.
But as you say, you've got to live next door afterwards so let that temper you decision.
HETAS don't have any statutory powers. Fire brigade are probably best . They won't Dick around, it's a serious issue, your Mrs is lucky to have woken up, they'll sort it. Get on the phone, now!
Fire brigade
Installation is covered by building regs .Im guessing the flue isnt lined .I would call the fire brigade You have grounds to suppose a chimney may be on fire and smoke is a silent killer.
+1 fire brigade, serious situation.
yep smoke damaged house. your house will stink for ages if its really that bad.
Tbh if i had to live next to her or not - if she just did that to me after i pointed out the issue id not hold back.
Fair enough folks make a mistake but to knowingly continue doing it.....
HETAS are useless, they are a Monday to Friday outfit that would only deal with registered installers. They wouldn't have any recourse on something like this.
I have off-gassed the first floor. It still stinks and I dare not open the loft hatch.
I already thought about the fact she could be dead but her car isn't on the drive and her yappy mut isn't yapping.
Might sound stupid but what powers would building control have? Can she be prosecuted/ordered not to light it etc. I have no understanding of civil law
see if you can find a non emergency line for the firebrigade and phone them. Explain the situation and the extent of smoke in your house.
stupid bint wont light it again once she has the firebrigade round unl,ess shes even more stupid than she has shown her self to be !
The yappy mutt might be the first thing to keel over. Those who suggest restraint on the grounds that you have to live next door to her, she should be the one with concerns of that nature after what she's done.
I'd still be calling the fire brigade.
Phone the fire brigade, tell them there's smoke coming from next door, there's no answer from the neighbour, and you fear she may be overcome from the smoke fumes.
Call the fire brigade. They'll all be out of bed by now so they won't mind 😆
called the fire service for advice. They are sending a crew!
Or pop down the local fire station for a chat, they'll probably be happy to advise and you might get a ride in a fire engine if they decide to come and bash her doors in.
contact Building Control at the council if it wasn't a HETAS approved person install,it would need a Building Regs application,even if it was they'd be interested(we are and I've spent far too much time in Building Control).I'd call and follow up with email to head of Building Control copied into the Chief Executive
To light it again after you told her what happens is bad enough. To do it and then leave the house unattended (if she's not actually collapsed somewhere in her own house) is an order of magnitude worse. Truly gobsmacking stupidity and recklessness.
Why are you still posting on here. Get out call fire brigade. Potentially life threatening situation it is an emergency.
Well done, FB will sort it. Hope she gets a rocket for it, make sure and tell them the while story.
So what did the crew do...?
So what did the crew do...?
they only set off 7 mins ago - give 'em a chance! 🙂
unbelievable ignorance/stupidity!
I'd be making sure it was out of commission one way or the other until the chimney is relined.
Fire brigade a good shout.
Building control/HETAS are likely to be fairly disinterested and take weeks to do anything.