Check out these great videos on how to fit a chimney cowl. Keeping it would avoid the need to pay 3 per cent Stamp Duty on a replacement buy. Instead of tackling the noise from the inside of your home, how about doing … Lenders will insist that the rent covers the monthly interest payments on the mortgage by a certain margin - typically 125 or 130 per cent, but it can be less. doesn't rotate) and I think that this is contributing to the noise. Even if under the lease, the windows belong to the lessee, there is always an argument that by replacing them outright, he was guilty of carrying out "unlawful alterations", notwithstanding that under the terms of the lease he is almost certainly obliged to keep the premises in good repair. James Cotton is a mortgage specialist at L & C (0800 953 0304; David Fleming is head of property litigation at William Heath & Co. Other than applying to the court or a tribunal for a declaration that he has not been in breach of his lease, there is not a great deal your friend's son can do. It will surely prevent birds from nesting. Chimney Flue Cowl Spinner Stainless Steel Plug-in Spinning Cowl … We live at the top of a hill, and when it is windy we get a terrible roaring sound down the chimney, making it difficult to hear the television. These use the force of the wind to spin a turbine like device, increasing draft. If none of those possible explanations sound right, it could be due to a loose part within your stove system. But I do recommend that you discuss all possible tax implications with an accountant in light of your own situation. The figures you give show a potential 4.8 per cent gross return on your current house. As a higher rate taxpayer, I pay tax on about £7,000 of rental income per year at my highest rate. A stainless steel spinning cowl is one of the most common kinds of cowl available on the market and will be fine for most chimneys. One of the problems with the freehold/leasehold system for flats is that it does allow unscrupulous freeholders to raise more or less bogus disputes knowing that the lessee will have to "settle them" (normally by paying some money) in order to sell his flat. Stainless Steel Chimney Spinning Cowl with Top Plate Spinner Duct Pipe Cap STP. It would amaze me if it could, chimney cowls are super light, normal wind won't turn the wheel, and if you add the bike dynamo the friction will be too much. Currently, I receive £625 per month rent for it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Another type of cowl is called a rotating spinning chimney cowl. Normally caused by low chimney stacks and obstructions that can be around the chimney pot, and is mostly noticeable when winds are blowing in a certain direction. Should this become a regular or annoying problem, you might consider a chimney cowl to limit the wind’s interference with your stove system. The MAD Spinner cowl is a directional cowl that provides complete dynamic protection from downdraughts, whilst the rotating action assists ventilation. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Send your property problems to: Property Clinic, The Daily Telegraph, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT; email. Although leases differ, window frames or the exterior of them are usually the freeholder's responsibility and cannot be replaced by the individual lessee, the justification being the need to maintain a uniform appearance of the outside of the building. 4.6 out of 5 stars 99. O H-Cowl For Chimney Clay Pots The O H-Cowl is the recommend cowl for blow backs in a fire place. The top of the chimney has a metal cap about six inches high with ventilation holes in the side. Chimney cowls with moving parts can be unreliable because they are prone to failure which can happen at any time. It will stand still. Naively, he did not seek the freeholder's permission prior to doing so. This cowl has probably then been set in mortar at the chimney top. The son of a friend is getting married this year and is selling his leasehold property. See more ideas about chimney cowls, fireplace tools, chimney cap. What would determine the maximum mortgage I could take out on the rental property, except current market value? The Spinning chimney cowl is designed to eradicate downdraught, whilst the rotating action assists ventilation. Downdraught is caused by negative air pressure, which can be a result of anything from overhanging trees to a too-short chimney. £6.50 postage. I would sell and buy a one- or, if possible, two-bedroom flat in an established, comfortable area of London, within 10 minutes' walk of a Tube or train station and reasonable shops. How to fit a chimney cowl: Fitting a chimney cowl, fitting a birdguard, fitting a spinning cowl, fitting a pot hanger cowl. I've removed one that made a squeeky noise every turn. To avoid this breakdown and increase the lifespan of the cowl, use oil to lube its hinges and screws. To work properly a chimney must have draw, both to clear the products of combustion and to provide fresh combustion air to the fire. This way, smoke has no place to go through. A secondary function is to prevent birds and squirrels from nesting in the chimney. I could then claim the interest payments on the new mortgage against rent for tax purposes. Was: £79.99. We could either sell and put the money in the bank for a few years, or hold on and rent it out for about £1,200 per month. The cowl is used to keep birds from nesting on the chimney, but the cheapest chimney cowl type, having a round shape, permits birds to rest on top of them, thus being less effective. ... chimney cowl no more downdraght and wind noise. Their main purpose is to increase updraughts, and to prevent the wind from blowing smoke back into the home. ALUMINIUM COLT TOP 2 CHIMNEY COWL ANTI DOWN DRAUGHT WITH BIRD GUARD RAIN ENTRY PROTECTION . David Snell is contributing editor to Homebuilding & Renovating magazine and author of Building Your Own Home, available at £25 plus p&p from 0870 155 7222. Chimney Cowls are hood shaped coverings designed to be fitted to the top of a chimney to improve their function. The chimney also has a mound of mortar underneath it which raises its height - could this have anything to do with the noise? The chimney cowl also has a few problems. So, what can you do to prevent noise caused by wind in the chimney? £2.99 postage. This could possibly be stretched to £140,000, depending on lender (watch out for high arrangement fees). That said, and finances aside, it may ultimately be a case of personal preference - some people prefer the feeling of having a mortgage-free home. Rotary chimney cowl Turbowent with external bearings is a device, which, in a dynamic way, uses force of the wind to increase chimney draught. My husband has been offered a job in another part of the country, with a house as part of the package, and we know that we are not going to return to our current area. If you have bird problems, try an anti-roosting spike. On a buy-to-let property, the amount you can borrow is determined primarily by the rental income. When he first moved in, he replaced some of the windows with new ones (the old ones were not in a good condition). To avoid this breakdown and increase the lifespan of the cowl, use oil to lube its hinges and screws. The question is whether it is in your interest to do so. However, there are others as well, such as a directional wind cowl, updraft cowl, capping cowls and a clamping chimney cowl. If the chimney is not in use, we would suggest you try a chimney balloon and you buy, from your local builders merchant, a clay cowl called a flue vent as this will definitely help your noise problem from the chimney. A noisy chimney can also be caused by a damaged chimney cowl or birdguard being in position. The freeholder, a company, is happy to grant retrospective approval, but is demanding a payment of £650. Some chimneys can’t function unless they have a cowl installed, because it covers up the entire pot. Different type of cowls fitted. If your chimney cowl starts spinning slowly or stops, its best you just buy a new one than repair the broken one. We cannot decide whether to sell or let our current property. This cowl has probably then been set in mortar at the chimney top. I recommend The New London Property Guide by Carrie Segrave (Mitchell Beazley, £12.99), which is updated annually and gives sensible advice and snapshots of all areas, together with typical values and rental returns. Either way, if you wanted to clear the residential mortgage completely, you'd need to use your own savings as a top-up. or Best Offer. Lorna Vestey writes: Personally, I would not sell and bank the money, as I believe that capital is likely to appreciate much more if invested in a well-chosen property than in a deposit account. It basically creates a vacuum in your chimney, sucking fresh air up the flue and expelling it outside your home. What is the best course of action? Basic Rain & Bird Protection : Unused Chimneys : Crow Guards / Balloon Mesh : How Fulham vs Chelsea had been the Premier League's most one-sided local derby. Self-adjusting Dragon chimney cowl spinner square base | 10" 250 mm Roof Cap . They are expensive and fragile. It prevents downdrafts but also has problems. Eradicate downdraught in chimneys, flues and ducts with spinning cowls from Nationwide Chimney Components. Stainless Steel Chimney Cowl Cap, Anti Downdraught Bird Guard Top, Suitable for All Fuel Types, Rain and Snow Cover Pot, Flue Protector for 100-350mm pipefit 4.3 out of 5 stars 72 £66.90 Cowl that protect your chimney – These are Rain Cowls, Chimney Caps and Bird Guards in Limerick.. Cowls that may help or prevent down draughts which include Spinner Cowl, All Purpose Antidown Draught Chimney Cowl.. Reduce wind noise- Lobster Cowl or Revolving Cowl. Rotating chimney caps are passive ventilation devices that aid in the ventilation of chimney gasses. David Fleming writes: I sympathise with your outrage. When the wind catches the metal cowl, it will be just like blowing across the mouthpiece of a large whistle or flute and the sound will be transferred down the liner. If you rely on a spinning cowl (that draws up air by spinning) or moving cowl (that adjusts to wind direction in anyway by moving), to stop downdraught and it fails while the fire is on, there can be serious consequences if the smoke cannot then escape. It prevents downdrafts but also has problems. Spinning chimney cowls are used especially if the house is somewhere in a hilly area. Would a different type of cap be more suitable? The chimney pipe itself is a non-standard size so the cap was custom-made. I had paid the mortgage off in 2003 and the house is now worth around £180,000. Spinning chimney cowls are perfect for houses that are situated in hilly regions which make them the likeliest victims for downdrafts. However, as the property was previously your principal private residence, there may be some scope. Spinning Chimney Cowl Stops Spinning One type of chimney cowl revolves, helping to increase draft inside your chimney flue which consequently retards the action of “puff downs” or downdrafts. This will mean taking off the mortar at the top and pouring expanded vermiculite (the trade name is Micafil) in and around - so you might just as well replace the pot at the same time. Chimney cowl is made from stainless steel and comes in four different sizes: 150mm, 200mm, 250mm, 300mm. The second is to fill around the lining with an inert material to deaden the sound. As the chimney is simply a large funnel, when a bird such as a wood pigeon or a gull perches on the top of the chimney pot and makes any noise at all, that noise will be amplified very considerably by the time it reaches fireplaces in rooms below. Chimney cowls are fitted over the chimney or flue and work by preventing downdraught from entering a building and encouraging updraughts to push the smoke up and out. Strictly speaking, as the loan would be used to pay off your residential mortgage rather than for commercial purposes, tax relief would not be available. They also act as a barrier against birds and inclement weather, and help prevent vermin and a build up of leaves and debris. How to Lubricate a Rotating Chimney Cap. James Cotton writes: There is no legal issue to stop you raising money against an investment property and using the capital to reduce your residential mortgage. This is really a question for an accountant or tax adviser. Use a Spinning cowl, ... Is There A Cowl To Reduce Wind Noise. LTLCBB Revolving Chimney Cowl, Stainless Steel Vent Cowl Rotating Spinner Anti-Downdraught, for Chimneys And Exhaust Vents Chimney Pots,100mm. This causes air to be forced back down the chimney and into your room. We are not thinking of selling either property in the forseeable future, and so I was wondering about the legality and practicality of taking out a mortgage on the rented house and using it, plus savings, to completely pay off the mortgage on my current home. David Snell writes: I would imagine that the installers have lined your chimney (after sweeping it) with a flexible stainless steel liner. We live in an end-of-terrace house built in 1896 which we have recently renovated, putting a free-standing gas stove in the inglenook fireplace - which was swept prior to installation. He is keen to sell his flat, does not want to create trouble and has therefore decided to pay up. I bought the house in 1996 for £60,000, and lived in it as my principal private residence until my husband's job necessitated moving. Our experts answer your questions about all aspects of buying, owning and selling a house. However, I find the action of the freeholder an outrageous abuse and wonder if it can demand such an amount with impunity? Our Chimney Cowls offer a number of features to aid your chimney’s performance. Different type of cowls fitted. Basic Rain & Bird Protection : Unused Chimneys : Crow Guards / Balloon Mesh : They often also act as a rain guard to keep rain from going down the chimney. Avoid the edgy or maybe-up-and-coming areas. The new house is worth around £350,000, with an outstanding mortgage of £190,000. Loose parts. When the wind catches the metal cowl, it will be just like blowing across the mouthpiece of a … However, you could also get the profit out completely free of tax. If you are currently experiencing wind noise through your Chimney we have a solution that may just give restore your peace. In June the mortgage on our new house comes to the end of its fixed-rate period, and so I'd be looking to move mortgages to avoid the building society's Standard Variable Rate. The chimney pipe has a spinning cowl which is making a lot of noise when the wind makes it spin. The other main factor will be the amount of equity you have in the property - most buy-to-let lenders will allow you to borrow up to 85 per cent of its current value. This will help to ensure that smoke doesn’t get pushed down your chimney and into your home, which could occur on windier days. The chimney cowl is used to solve problems related to noises, downdraft and nesting birds upon your chimney. The cowl, usually made of galvanized iron, is fitted to the chimney pot to prevent wind blowing the smoke back down into the room below. Install a Chimney Cap. £75.99. Another consideration is that you are likely to have to pay a higher rate of interest on your investment property. Jan 10, 2019 - Explore Private's board "Chimney cowls" on Pinterest. There are two things that you can do. The Spinning chimney cowl is designed to eradicate downdraught, whilst the rotating action assists ventilation. You will, of course, have to make sure that the bottom of the chimney is sealed. Replacement Bearings for Spinner Chimney Cowl (quantity 2) These bearings contain high temperature grease rated to 250 Degrees C. Please note that these bearings will only suit our Spinner and not any competing models. If your chimney cowl starts spinning slowly or stops, its best you just buy a new one than repair the broken one. The house is worth £300,000 (with a £100,000 mortgage to pay off). The reason they fail is they become choked with soot from the fire below. Quick view. STAINLESS STEEL self-adjusting spinner chimney cowl cap 7" square plate base. We don't use the chimney anymore so just need it silencing. The primary reason for installing a chimney cowl is for the prevention of downdraught. Despite the increase in bank interest rates and sundry prophets of doom, the fact is that demand for housing - especially in London - far outstrips supply. I hope that you can help us out of a quandary. Chimney cowls come in different types. For £300,000, I believe you should be able get more than £1,200 per month and be comfortably placed to absorb any more interest-rate increases on your £100,000 mortgage, while benefiting from medium and long-term capital gains. Lorna Vestey is a former partner of a blue-chip London estate agency. Fixings for chimney cowls include strap fixing with jubilee band, and hook bolt fixing depending on the type of chimney cowl … £40.99 to £65.99. Spinning chimney cowls are used especially if the house is somewhere in a hilly area. This will be fixed with a clip to the top of the stove and similarly fixed to the metal cowl. The cowl on top is fixed (i.e. Choose Options. You need to consider the outlook for its future sale and rental values. Do you think that if I got a rotating cowl, this would significantly decrease the noise? Cowl that protect your chimney – These are Rain Cowls, Chimney Caps and Bird Guards in Cork. The globe style revolving chimney cowls we have are designed in a way so that their fins catch the wind and rotate, preventing wind from blowing down the chimney. Cowls that may help or prevent down draughts which include Spinner Cowl, All Purpose Antidown Draught Chimney Cowl.. Reduce wind noise- Lobster Cowl or Revolving Cowl. The first is to replace the metal cowl with a clay one that will be quieter in the wind. The high cost of moving, with current levels of Stamp Duty, has helped to seize up our traditionally fluid property market, contributing to shortages and higher prices. Chimney Caps Square Chimney Cowls Range Multi Fuel Chimney Cowls Anti Down Draught Chimney Cowls Spinning Chimney Cowls Twin Wall Flue Systems Chimney Flue Liners Rotorvent Ultralite 2 Spinning Chimney Cowl Was £118.80 - Now Just £79.95 Based on a monthly rent of £625 and assuming a mortgage rate of 5.25 per cent, you should be able to borrow £115,000. In fairness, freeholders often do legitimately complain about alterations to windows. First, it may affect your ability to offset the mortgage interest against the rental income for tax purposes. Begin by figuring out exactly what is causing the noise. I own a property that I have let out since 2004. Instead of just buying the most extreme cowl you can get, select the right one for you. Chimney noise is mostly caused when wind blows over the top of a chimney flue or pot which does not have a chimney cowl fitted. Our great range of Anti-downdraught Chimney Cowls can help provide a solution to preventing wind entering the chimney.