Which notice type applies?
Chimney breasts on terraced and semi-detached houses almost always form part of the party wall — the breast on your side is mirrored by your neighbour's breast on the other. Removing your chimney breast cuts into the shared structure and requires a Section 3 (Party Structure) notice. The notice must include the proposed support method (typically a gallows bracket or steel beam) so your neighbour's surveyor can satisfy themselves that the remaining stack is properly supported.
Common scenarios where this notice is needed
- Removing a ground-floor chimney breast in a terraced or semi-detached house.
- Removing chimney breasts on multiple floors and supporting the remaining stack.
- Removing a chimney breast in the loft to gain useable space.
- Cutting back a chimney breast (partial removal) to gain useful floor area.
The notice period and what to expect
A Section 3 notice requires two months of notice before works begin. The clock runs from the date of service.
Once served, the adjoining owner has fourteen days to respond. If they consent, you can proceed once the notice period expires. If they dissent (or fail to respond), the Section 10 surveyor process begins and a Party Wall Award is produced before the relevant works can start.
Typical cost for this project type
The notice itself costs £48 inc VAT through our generator (less for multiple notices). Surveyor fees only apply if the adjoining owner dissents — typically £600–£1,200 for an Agreed Surveyor or £1,200–£3,000 for two-surveyor matters on a standard domestic project. For a full breakdown, see our cost guide.
How to generate the right notice
Our notice generator walks you through the relevant questions for your project type and produces a statutorily compliant notice ready to print and serve. The wizard recommends the right section automatically based on what you describe — there's no need to know which section applies before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a notice if the chimney is entirely on my side of the wall?
If the chimney is genuinely a 'one-sided' chimney built entirely on your side and not bonded into the party wall, the works may not be notifiable. In practice this is rare on terraced and semi-detached houses. A surveyor inspection or a careful look at the structural drawings will confirm.
What support method should I describe in the notice?
The two common methods are a gallows bracket (a steel bracket bolted into the party wall to support the stack above) or a steel beam supported on posts at each end. Whichever you propose, include enough detail in the notice that the neighbour's surveyor can assess it.
Can my neighbour stop me removing my chimney breast?
No. They cannot prevent the works in principle, but they can require — through the Party Wall Award — that specific protections, support details and inspection points are agreed before works start.