Neighbours stove causing issues

mikekerry · 26-11-2018 05:29PM #1

Hi,
A neighbour of ours put in a stove a few weeks ago next to our family home ( I don't live there), ever since then there has been issue in our house with the wall in the downstairs sitting room becoming very hot when the neighbour's stove is burning fuel.
As well as this the upstairs room just above the sitting room has become uninhabitable due the smoke that's coning in along with a very bad smell.
A family member installed a carbon monoxide alarm in the upstairs bedroom and the alarm immediately went off resulting in the family leaving the house and calling the fire brigade.
The neighbor was told by the fire brigade to stop lighting fires in the stove but he refuses to stop .
A family member has contacted the council but they along with the fire brigade and gaurds say it is not their issue.
We are currently trying to get an engineer out to have a look.
Is there any authority that can be contacted to resolve this issue?
thanks

mikekerry · 26-11-2018 05:30PM

the houses are privately owned

Dardania · 26-11-2018 05:38PM

mikekerry wrote: »

Hi,
A neighbour of ours put in a stove a few weeks ago next to our family home ( I don't live there), ever since then there has been issue in our house with the wall in the downstairs sitting room becoming very hot when the neighbour's stove is burning fuel.
As well as this the upstairs room just above the sitting room has become uninhabitable due the smoke that's coning in along with a very bad smell.
A family member installed a carbon monoxide alarm in the upstairs bedroom and the alarm immediately went off resulting in the family leaving the house and calling the fire brigade.
The neighbor was told by the fire brigade to stop lighting fires in the stove but he refuses to stop .
A family member has contacted the council but they along with the fire brigade and gaurds say it is not their issue.
We are currently trying to get an engineer out to have a look.
Is there any authority that can be contacted to resolve this issue?
thanks

Sounds like a very worrying situation.

It sounds like the building regs weren’t adaquetly followed: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-j-heat-producing-appliances/technical-guidance-document-tgd

In which case it goes back to the council

mikekerry · 26-11-2018 05:42PM

yes but the council are saying it's not their issue as the houses are privately owned

Dardania · 26-11-2018 05:46PM

mikekerry wrote: »

yes but the council are saying it's not their issue as the houses are privately owned

I don’t think it’s a question to be put to the social housing section (who influence social tenants) - it needs to go to the building control section. The lock authorities have responsibility for that too: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/building-regulations/building-control

26-11-2018 07:15PM

You have smoke and carbon monoxide leaking into your house from your neighbours leaking chimney.

Their stove and flue liner (if there is one) has not been installed correctly.

This is an extremely dangerous setup that must be stopped.

If they are not willing to cooperate Id go straight to a solicitor for professional advice and see what they would advise regarding legal action.

davindub · 26-11-2018 07:29PM

mikekerry wrote: »

Hi,
A neighbour of ours put in a stove a few weeks ago next to our family home ( I don't live there), ever since then there has been issue in our house with the wall in the downstairs sitting room becoming very hot when the neighbour's stove is burning fuel.
As well as this the upstairs room just above the sitting room has become uninhabitable due the smoke that's coning in along with a very bad smell.
A family member installed a carbon monoxide alarm in the upstairs bedroom and the alarm immediately went off resulting in the family leaving the house and calling the fire brigade.
The neighbor was told by the fire brigade to stop lighting fires in the stove but he refuses to stop .
A family member has contacted the council but they along with the fire brigade and gaurds say it is not their issue.
We are currently trying to get an engineer out to have a look.
Is there any authority that can be contacted to resolve this issue?
thanks

Probably best to contact a solicitor. If the neighbour is aware of the potential health hazards and continues to light the fire, he should be prepared to compensate you.

I would also approach the guards again, it is a civil issue but there is a risk to life so there is endangerment which is a criminal offense. Again the solicitor may be able to do this for you.

Del2005 · 26-11-2018 07:33PM

I'd be getting in contact with the EPA, your neighbour is polluting your house.

malinheader · 26-11-2018 07:52PM

Christ that's not a neighbour that's a proper nightmare. Anyone who has been told there putting carbon monoxide into a neighbour house and doesn't stop is a total nut job. I would be onto the epa and get a solicitors letter sent straight away stating compensation will be sought if his chimney or flue is found to be faulty.

James 007 · 26-11-2018 08:00PM

https://lema.epa.ie/complaints

Contact the EPA Office 053-916 0600

Car expert · 26-11-2018 08:03PM

Ringing EPA waste of time, you need to exhaust the council dept first.

ted1 · 26-11-2018 09:12PM

you need to get them to stop straight away. There is no lining in the chimney and it’s leaking. Stoves are cheap. Fitting them correctly isn’t.

surrender monkey · 26-11-2018 09:24PM

You need to ring your local council again and ask to speak to the environmental health officer. I would also go straight away to a solicitor and have them write to your neighbour. If carbon monoxide is leaking into your house it's leaking into his also. Bring him into your house and show him what's going on and tell him someone could die if he doesn't have it repaired.

MarkR · 26-11-2018 09:28PM

Keep the carbon monoxide alarm active. When its triggered, get outside and call emergency services. Bill will go to neighbour hopefully.

Wildly Boaring · 26-11-2018 09:31PM

When you called the fire brigade, who paid?

Generally the call out charge is substantial and goes to the person who called it.

I have heard of the details of the offending party being sent to fire brigade as the party to bill....

Caused a bit of friction though.
Was a farmer burning stubble and straw.

Also when not having joy from the council write to them. Environment section.

Car expert · 26-11-2018 09:32PM

MarkR wrote: »

Keep the carbon monoxide alarm active. When its triggered, get outside and call emergency services. Bill will go to neighbour hopefully.

No it won’t, whoever calls pays.

Wildly Boaring · 26-11-2018 09:33PM

MarkR wrote: »

Keep the carbon monoxide alarm active. When its triggered, get outside and call emergency services. Bill will go to neighbour hopefully.

Snap.

Although I'd make sure the first one does before getting more. Had to call them to a skip fire in cork city. Over a grand. They did have to stay a while to ensure it was out

the_pen_turner · 26-11-2018 09:47PM

surely this is some kind of assault or intentional harm

TheChizler · 26-11-2018 09:47PM

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Snap.

Although I'd make sure the first one does before getting more. Had to call them to a skip fire in cork city. Over a grand. They did have to stay a while to ensure it was out

Cork City Fire Brigade don't charge, you sure about that? Unless they've changed policy very recently.

Gileadi · 26-11-2018 09:59PM

It is the councils responsibility, contact building control department.

The recent works (as you describe them) cannot comply with the building regulations (TGD J would be a good place to start) so the council can inspect/intervene/prosecute as necessary.

In parallel I’d try reason with the neighbour, if the carbon monoxide alarm is going off the levels could harm or kill an inhabitant, which they would be responsible for. It’s horrifically reckless

Fann Linn · 26-11-2018 09:59PM

The OP could go to the council or to the EPA and they will respond, however a Direction will be issued under some Act or Regulation and the alleged offender will be given instructions on what to do and what the penalties are if they are not complied with.
All this will take time.

If the Fire service, as an Authority have given a Direction, my next port of call would then be to the Gardai, followed by a visit to a Solicitor to get an injunction in the Court.
It will be quicker and more secure.

If the OP rang their LA tomorrow, their case will spend the morning being bounced around between Environment, Building Regs, Planning and Fire.

From experience.

Mrs OBumble · 26-11-2018 10:09PM

Car expert wrote: »

No it won’t, whoever calls pays.

Not that clear cut.

Where there's a charge, it goes to the owner of whatever was on fire, or whoever received the benefit of the service.

OP, as well as a solicitor, contact a local councillor and/or TD from a party with a reputation for getting things done. You may need to have some "local knowledge" applied to encourage your neighbour to be better behaved.

Wildly Boaring · 26-11-2018 10:10PM

TheChizler wrote: »

Cork City Fire Brigade don't charge, you sure about that? Unless they've changed policy very recently.

Cork charge companies and even landlords.

Private callouts free.

the_pen_turner · 26-11-2018 10:13PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Not that clear cut.

Where there's a charge, it goes to the owner of whatever was on fire, or whoever received the benefit of the service.

sounds like either the neighbour is 100% liable or both are 50.50 liable.

ring the firebregade and tell them your party wall is on fire and that next doors fire is causing it.

goat2 · 26-11-2018 10:15PM

I am wondering if they got the right person to install it, I had one fitted to an old building, and it cost more than the stove itself to install it safely, with lining chimney from stove to top exit of chimney and cementing in around it on top, It is well worth it, but a qualified person is the only one to do a job like this,
You have Health and Safety issues, they must address it

L1011 · 26-11-2018 10:19PM

Car expert wrote: »

No it won’t, whoever calls pays.

Utterly incorrect and dangerous to even suggest as it stops people calling in fires they see.

Beneficial owner pays.

Fann Linn · 26-11-2018 10:30PM

If a monoxide alarm was going off and my family was at risk the least of my worries would be the fire brigade call out charge.

punisher5112 · 26-11-2018 10:31PM

Seriously op I would be banging the neighbours door down and making a scene at least.

Call the Gardai and an ambulance and fire if you feel any way at all like you have been poisioned.

This is serious and you need to be away from this threat.

Can you live anywhere else like family or friends until this is fixed?

This could and does kill and very quickly at that. You could be asleep and never wake up if this continues.

As mentioned you need to contact the council and environment agency.

I honestly can't believe the crap they all spout out it's nothing to do with them such as Garda answers.

The other occupier needs to stop and be made do so.

looksee · 26-11-2018 10:33PM

We had a very similar situation and I called the fire brigade when I could see smoke in a bedroom - I don't know if next door actually got the bill (we were on good terms with them and there was no aggravation) but we certainly didn't and the fire officer was very sympathetic to us about the situation.

fritzelly · 26-11-2018 10:34PM

Isn't this tantamount to attempted murder - I mean seriously, he knows what is happening but continues to do it with the very likelihood he could kill someone
As said previously on to a solicitor if the council won't do anything

Graham · 26-11-2018 10:42PM

OP, it might be worth talking to the local chief fire officer to see if a fire safety notice could be issued to the neighbour.

Neighbours stove causing issues

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