wall between lofts in semi detached

[Joe Shmoe]

Hi.

My parents live in a 1930s semi, and the party wall doesn't continue to the top of the loft, so essentially gives no fire safety or protection from neighbours venturing over our side of the house. Are there any rules or regulations that may cause them to come unstuck in the event of a fire insurance claim?

Should I start making plans to install something?

Cheers.

 

[Harbo]

I would - one of our member's house was badly fire damaged when his neighbours house caught fire and spread through the roof to his?

Rod

 

[Alexam]

Your own hose insurance should cover you in the event thatyour neigbours house caught fire and damaed your property. Check your policy with your insurance company.

Alex

 

[MARK.B.]

Block it up for both fire risk and security.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If one or the other of the houses were to be sold, afaik the lenders would insist on a fire break, as would the insurers.

 

[Hemsby]

Hi.

My parents live in a 1930s semi, and the party wall doesn't continue to the top of the loft, so essentially gives no fire safety or protection from neighbours venturing over our side of the house. Are there any rules or regulations that may cause them to come unstuck in the event of a fire insurance claim?

Should I start making plans to install something?

Cheers.

Would not be allowed on a new house, but theirs is not new. Insurance is probably not an issue but could be a grey area in the event of a claim

But many reasons why any gaps should be filled, some as already mentioned, Fire, Security, Heat loss, Vermin and might be an issue if the property goes up for sale if a surveyor sees it causing possible delays in a valuable sale

Would not be difficult to rectify or expensive if you have to get the builder (hammer) in and both property owners should share any cost.

“Never put off until Tomorrow what you could have done today”

 

[Phil Pascoe]

:lol: "Never put off until tomorrow what you could put off until the day after" is more apt in circumstances like these.

 

[Benchwayze]

I had the same problem in a 30s semi. I just blocked up the missing brick spaces. (I think the brickies couldn't be bothered to cut bricks to shape to fill the spaces with sloping ends.) I got some insulation and plaster-boarded the wall afterwards. I wanted to use the loft for storage, so boarded it out too. PCs weren't in common domestic use then, but had they been I'd have had a nice office!