Bought house with chimney removed, no building cert

[aroundM21]

Unusual situation, would appreciate advise please.

When we moved our survey highlighted that a chimney had been removed from the kitchen.

It was along the back wall of the main building - the kitchen & upstairs then continue 'outrigger', ie L-shaped house with a rear gable end. Upstairs there is indeed a boxed off stack.

Along from this point is the bath which just leaked. So badly that the kitchen ceiling collapsed, revealing 2 wooden beams, partially damp, one of which aligns with the rear house main wall so I assume in place of a supporting wall.

So an unexpected opportunity for deeper assurance / inspection than the non-intrusive survey !!

How can I best go about this --- if I post a photo of above ceiling, what should we see? Or should I just pay a surveyor - if so, private or Council Building control ??


FYIs: The house was built ~1930. Next door have the same layout. We've lived here 6 weeks and assume the leak was from change in shower usage. We'very fixed the leak which was the bath seal. We live in Manchester. There is a vertical pillar on the kitchen wall where the chimney was, I guess a wooden support.

Thanks in advance! Mike.

 

[tony1851]

You need to show a few pics.

 

[^woody^]

...... and ask your question instead of just making statements.

 

[aroundM21]

The question is what could I achieve with a surveyor ?? Either independent the or Council (is retrospective building control -- reading other posts has put me off the idea).

I've since found 2 steel beams (in the photo behind the wooden one) so feel comfortable generally now. I like things to be right, so initial intuition was to survey for approval, but now I feel that would be more hassle than value. Agree ???

The photo with a brick is between the 2 steels towards under the chimney.

 

[tony1851]

Someone's clearly taken the trouble of putting steel in, so why bother taking this any further 'officially'?
Just check at the ends of the beams to see if they are properly supported.

 

[^woody^]

If you know what you are looking at and have the experience to judge if its good or bad, then you don't need anyone else to look at it. If not, then you might. If you want it approved for the next sale time, then you will.