Broken chimney

[Lynne]

A neighbour's chimney stack was badly damaged in the storms just after Christmas.I went round to tell them as I think they can't see from their garden. Their English was very limited so I talked to the letting agent for them but still nothing has been dome.

I think one more bad storm might bring the stack down

I don't know if I'm only poking my nose in, or if there's something more I can do to help

Has anyone any suggestions?

Lynne

[womanofdulwich]

maybe insurance claim anyway?

[Lynne]

You mean the landlord wants it to fall? It could go through the roof

Lynne

[KidKruger]

if you're worried about a dangerous structure / danger to people, call the council, you've tried the obvious route and no-one wants to play, so escalate to someone who will.

[Penguin68]

If the landlord is not available (this is a period when people are away) there is not a lot anyone can do about it; the tenant cannot instruct constructional works and if the letting agents are not also being paid to manage the tenancy their hands are tied as well. If the building is reported and declared unsafe then the tenants are homeless. Bit of a quandary.

[Monkey]

From Southwark Coucnil's website:

How to report a dangerous structure

Please call 020 7525 5397/5582/5596 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or 0845 600 1285 outside normal working hours.

[Too Good To Be True]

If you really think it's dangerous, the tenants are probably better off homeless (or at least having the stress of having to move house at short notice) than having a chimney stack crush them in the middle of the night.

[Lynne]

Thanks for all the advice. being no expert I can't really assess the danger, but you can now see right throught the chimney stack where the bricks have come out

Lynne

[chatterb0x]

Sounds like they need a new chimney if im honest of some serious re-pointing.

Call a builder and get some advice maybe???