Next doors roof leak advice please?

[David Baker]

Hi all, Wondering if anyone can kindly please give me some advice on a long term water leak from next doors house, owned by a nightmare landlord! I live in a terraced house and for the last 8 years I have had an issue with damp all around my chimney area. The owner couldn’t care less and was even taken to court by the tenant ( he still didnt do any repairs) and his house is shockingly full of mould and damp. I’ve been convinced there must be a huge hole around the shared chimney stack and this week I paid for someone to have a look for me. I’ve attached a pic, my stacks are on the left of the photo. Can anyone explain why there is a ridge tile there? And if possible please give me some advice on how his chimneys could/should be repaired? Many many thanks in advance for any help. 

[joe90]

That ridge tile allows ventilation into an unused chimney but stop rain entering (well in theory!!). All that mortar needs to come off and be renewed.yours is the better half but as it’s shared “his” damp will migrate to yours. Frankly I think you are on a hiding to nothing trying to get him to do anything so get a quote for the work to both sides just so you solve your problem. Actually the main cost is scaffold and getting up there, the additional cost of doing his as well is minimal (IMO).

[David Baker]

2 hours ago, joe90 said:

That ridge tile allows ventilation into an unused chimney but stop rain entering (well in theory!!). All that mortar needs to come off and be renewed.yours is the better half but as it’s shared “his” damp will migrate to yours. Frankly I think you are on a hiding to nothing trying to get him to do anything so get a quote for the work to both sides just so you solve your problem. Actually the main cost is scaffold and getting up there, the additional cost of doing his as well is minimal (IMO).

Thank you so much  for the reply Joe! So I assume under that tile is a a pipe similar to the one in the front of photo (raised above the surface of the plinth ) but all the concretes broken away leaving that huge hole for water to drain into. 

[joe90]

38 minutes ago, David Baker said:

So I assume under that tile is a a pipe similar to the one in the front of photo (

I doubt it, just a brick chimney “hole”. There should be a cowl over that pipe like yours in the foreground. Have you a cowl on that chimney of yours? Might be worth getting one out there when the work is being done (make sure it’s stainless steel  tho).

Edited November 9, 2023 by joe90