Repairs to chimney between 2 properties - notification

[wobbly2]

Can anyone tell me if it is necessary to notify the neighbour that shares a chimney you intend to repoint the chimney either on a) your own side only or b)on both sides? I tried to understand the Party Wall act but it doesn't seem clear on this point. Obviously it would be the neighbourly thing to do.

Is it acceptable to stand directly on old (mid 1930's) red clay tiles on a roof pitched at about 45 degrees?

 

[oldbutnotdead]

If all you are doing is repointing on your side only you should let them know so they don't get stressed about noises on the roof. Before you start work, take some pics of neighbours roof (in case there's any accusations of you breaking tiles etc).

Wouldn't recommend repointing without a working platform of some sort, its not going to be a 5 minute job.

 

[wobbly2]

I was woken up to workmen clambering about on the roof and valley yesterday morning with no prior notice, scared the **** out of me to begin with. I went outside and took the attached photos

The first photo is of the roofers working on repointing the chimney for the neighbours rented property. The bloke in the middle is using an angle grinder standing directly on the roof tiles the ladder resting against the chimney is also stood directly on the tiles. A while after the photo was taken the bloke on the right stood fully on the ladder to carry on his work. Doesn't look to be a very safe way of working, surely this is against health and safety, especially as neither workman wore masks or safety glasses, and it was windy.

And just in case you are wonder---yes they did break some of my roof tiles; you can see some of the replaced ones as they are not dusty like all the others from the second photo.

The second & third photo shows how they left the roof at home time 3:00PM and it is still like it 27 hours later with the weather forecasted to be heavy rain and high winds. Mine is the roof on the left.

The repointing seen as dark mortar looks very shallow. Isn't there a minimum requirement and pointing type? It looks as though they have raked out a maximum depth of 10mm then rubbed a smear of mortar over the top. The original pointing was not recessed but flush.

 

[^woody^]

Ah, the old "repoint just half a chimney" stupidness. And do it in half round because we're not proper tradesmen, to boot. Wonderful.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Well your neighbours are a bit ignorant not warning you that some clowns were going to be dancing about on your roof. Where did they leave the horses?
If you want some fun, ask them for a copy of their liability insurance, their method statements and risk assessments. If they can't provide them you are well within your rights to refuse them access to your half of the roof (access for maintenance is allowed but those doing the maintenance have to work within the law).
Back in the day you could have dug Environmental Health out to read them the riot act but probably not these days (worth a call though)