Next door chimney split horizontally and is loose

tvjunki

Hope for some advice. My next door neighbours (mid terrace)chimney is very loose and the plaster is cracked horizontally. The mortar between the bricks is broken away as they used the chimney for a tv satellite dish and aerial . There is a possibility that the chimney will fall off the roof damaging my roof tiles shared guttering and part of my porch. I had to get my chimney pointed about 3years a go and it looks like the whole estate had the same repair over time.

After a very bad split the neighbours walked out the door and before receivers arrived one of the couple put the keys into letterbox of the bank. This was about 8 years. The house has not been maintained since then.
We do not have the contact details of the owners and I am sure they think they have washed their hands of it.

The other neighbour rang the bank and the council about the over grown back garden as she had seen ’mice’ .

I know the bank that had provided the mortgage but I do not know where to start to request repair. The chimney is not linked to my chimney but is on the other side of the house.

Any idea what department to contact in the mortgage bank to see if they will organise repair or am I wasting my time and have to wait for the damage to occur? I am also worried about the flashing as there could be a leak in the roof and affect my side of the roof.

TheChizler

It doesn't directly answer your question but if you report it to the council they may be able to force the bank to make repairs.

Mr. Incognito

You will have to hire a solicitor and threaten to sue unfortunately to get any traction in my experience

Victor

Contact the bank's legal department, ask them if they own the property.

Mention that you fear collapse and that it poses a risk to the building and a public safety hazard.

You should be able to check who owns the property on https://www.landdirect.ie/ There will be a modest fee.

Wonderstruck

Victor wrote: »

Contact the bank's legal department, ask them if they own the property.

Mention that you fear collapse and that it poses a risk to the building and a public safety hazard.

You should be able to check who owns the property on https://www.landregistryireland.com/ There will be a modest fee.

The correct link is here - https://www.landdirect.ie/ that appears to be some sort of website impersonating the Property Registration Authority and charging more than their fees! :mad:

nuac

If the house has been vacant for eight years without maintenance there could be a number of problems
solicitor time

Lenar3556

The banks position is likely to be that while they may have a charge registered on the property they are not the owner and not responsible for its upkeep.

In the meantime I would make sure that your own buildings insurance is kept in order.

RJellybean

TheChizler wrote: »

It doesn't directly answer your question but if you report it to the council they may be able to force the bank to make repairs.

Contact your local council, either the development or planning sections. They can force the owners to carry out necessary works or look after it themselves. The below is from Citizens Information.

Each local authority is responsible for dealing with dangerous places and structures in its area. Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964, local authorities can require an owner to make such a site safe. In emergency cases, the local authority has the power to enter the site itself and make it safe.

The Act allows local authorities to:

Prosecute owners who do not comply with notices served
Purchase land compulsorily
Carry out necessary work and charge the owners for the cost
Definitions
What is a dangerous structure?
If a local authority believes a structure “is or is likely to be dangerous to any person or property” it can be identified as a dangerous structure. This includes any:

Building, wall or other structure of any kind
Part of, or anything attached to, a building, wall or other structure of any kind