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shyguy2005

Gas Engineer
Sep 30, 2010
159
42
28
Cheshire
Went to quote new combi for a combi and currently the flue terminates straight out horizontally over next doors drive. Is this allowed as long as neighbours don't find it a nuisance ??

Customer says neighbours are really nice and won't mind but just want to double check if it's allowed in the first place.
 
I dont think you can, as an existing its ok , but a new one no, this falls under building regs, they may be good neighbours now but when they get sick of the plume !!! Well .
Somebody will confirm
 
What happens if the neighbour decides to build a 2 story extension? This could put your customers in a potential dangerous situation. The regs are there for a reason.
 
What happens if the neighbour decides to build a 2 story extension? This could put your customers in a potential dangerous situation. The regs are there for a reason.

or they decide to sell up to a right grumpy git, then he calls building control on you for fitting a flue against regs?
 
What happens if the neighbour decides to build a 2 story extension? This could put your customers in a potential dangerous situation. The regs are there for a reason.

If the flue is already there, the neighbour can't build within 600mm of it.
 
Snowhead are you saying if my next door neighbour has his boiler flue on my land I cannot build my extension? I cannot see that happening
 
Snowhead are you saying if my next door neighbour has his boiler flue on my land I cannot build my extension? I cannot see that happening

It's no different to capping a chimney with a working fire below it, you wouldn't and couldn't do it.

Building control wouldn't let you build up against the flue.

The flue would be existing, it should never have been there but as a neighbour how are you going to get around it without negotiating to have it moved.

I've seen flues on end terraces discharging over public foot paths at high level.
 
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It's no different to capping a chimney with a working fire below it, you wouldn't and couldn't do it.

Building control wouldn't let you build up against the flue.

The flue would be existing, it should never have been there but as a neighbour how are you going to get around it without negotiating to have it moved.

I've seen flues on end terraces discharging over public foot paths at high level.

building control wouldnt care as planning would have been passed and the new build would go in and the flue owner would have to sort themselves out as they are in the wrong and its not their neighbours problem!
 
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Do you mean it physically terminates or that the plume is likely to head in that general direction. Its 600mm but you can get deflectors for some flues that directs the plume at an angle away
 
Building control wouldn't let you build up against the flue.

The flue would be existing, it should never have been there but as a neighbour how are you going to get around it without negotiating to have it moved.

If the existing flue contravenes building regs you can force them to move it. It's their problem. Which is why you should not terminate a flue over a neighbour's boundary even with their permission. If they sell up the new owner has every right to insist on it being moved.
 
building control wouldnt care as planning would have been passed and the new build would go in and the flue owner would have to sort themselves out as they are in the wrong and its not their neighbours problem!

Planning have no concerns over Building regs.
Building Control would spot there was going to be a conflict when the footings are inspected.
 
If the existing flue contravenes building regs you can force them to move it.
If they sell up the new owner has every right to insist on it being moved.

How would you "Force them"?

A private prosecution for failing to comply with Building Regs?

Has anyone on here ever moved a boiler / flue as a result of a Legal ruling obtained by a neighbour?
 
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yup, they didnt need a ruling, the new neighbour was built like a proverbial shed and pointed out the fact he no longer wanted a steam plume in his back doorway 🙂 So I installed a vert flue through the roof.
 
As far as my concern you are not allowed to use the old flue termination based on the new technical bulletin.

I am quite sure you will need to change the flue.

Based on my recent gas course you will need to change it
 
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How would you "Force them"?

A private prosecution for failing to comply with Building Regs?

Has anyone on here ever moved a boiler / flue as a result of a Legal ruling obtained by a neighbour?

No need for a private prosecution. The new owners went to local authority building control and lodged a complaint. The neighbours had to move the boiler in their expensive new extension. This was Redbridge council and I got the job of moving the boiler as the homeowner understandably did not want the original installer back.

What people don't seem to realise is that unlike Gas Safe rules, Building Regs are actual statutes. The full force of the law is behind them, and local authority building control can enforce them, right up to forcing people to knock down extensions, new builds etc. Fines can be in the tens of thousands and chronic failure to comply has in the past led to jail terms.
 
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Masood,

You are right about extension etc .. I had the same case with an extension the owner build it about 4" to high ... He broke a view of the neighbours therefore he had to change the extension about4"
 
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Im not being funny but if was mr bloggs and was doing an extension that is within permissible allowance i would call on the neighbours door and basically say 'move your boiler as a wall is going over it tomorrow'.
 
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No need for a private prosecution. The new owners went to local authority building control and lodged a complaint. The neighbours had to move the boiler in their expensive new extension. This was Redbridge council and I got the job of moving the boiler as the homeowner understandably did not want the original installer back.

What people don't seem to realise is that unlike Gas Safe rules, Building Regs are actual statutes. The full force of the law is behind them, and local authority building control can enforce them, right up to forcing people to knock down extensions, new builds etc. Fines can be in the tens of thousands and chronic failure to comply has in the past led to jail terms.


Yep pretty much bang on , an extension is being ripped down around the corner from where we live ,build control officer came around saw it was not fully compliant and said adapt it to suit or knock it down.
 
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Yep pretty much bang on , an extension is being ripped down around the corner from where we live ,build control officer came around saw it was not fully compliant and said adapt it to suit or knock it down.

Mate, a house round the corner from me is in the same state. Lord knows what the people were thinking but they built a loft extension, two-storey rear extension as well as converting the garage to living space and raising that to two storeys as well - all BEFORE applying for planning permission and permission for change of use from a family home to a residential home for kids with mental health problems.

Permission was refused when they did apply and now they have to knock down most of it. They've been allowed to keep the loft extension but not the rear and above the garage. Basically the council ruled that it has to be a large family home again.

They have seriously scary powers...
 

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