Sweeping powers? What rights do chimney sweeps have when inspecting rented properties in Poland?

Renting a house and one particular chimney sweep keeps visiting and ringing the doorbell a lot each time. I don't want to give him admission unless I know the score because I have a landlord to answer to. I have asked the landlord about this but not had a reply.

Does the chimney sweep have the right to inspect anything? (I have central heating, no open fires.)
Is he sent by any official body like a government department?
What should his fee be for an inspection, assuming I have to pay?
How can I be sure any work he says is necessary, for example sweeping or repairs, is necessary? (In the UK we never have our central heating vents cleared. A carbon monoxide check is done when the boiler is serviced and that's all.)

Must I have a chimney sweep inspect the house every year or some other period, by law?

He just wants a tip - its bad luck not to tip them according to custom in some parts of Poland.

Either give hin 20 zlots or give him the bum rush and tell him you dont want to see him again.

In my block of flats they came every year (sometimes twice if there were some changes in law) and checked the chimneys and toilet ventilation (gas heater- posibility of intoxination). Never paid them anything as they were contracted by the administration (they are the ones responsible for safety of this kind of stuff). They can order you to do some changes. They give back the results to the administration.

There should be information on the notice board that they are coming. It's usually something along the lines "We inform you that there will be an inspection of ventilation/gas on May the 15th between 9-11 and 17-18. Please give access to the premises and make sure all obstacles are removed.

If you are not sure about it ask one of the neighbours.

However if it's about a free standing house I never heard of them appearing out of nowhere if they weren't contracted by the owner.

You are not supposed to pay them anything. They are sent by your local housing estate and I think it is them who decide how often it happens - usually it's once or twice a year. This is for safety reasons because an accident in one flat could potentially affect all the residents of that block of flats. You have to let them in otherwise they will bother you until you do. What happens normally where I live is that they announce those visits by hanging a notice by the staircase on the ground floor saying when they are going to come.

And yes once a year on 4th May they can come in order to collect some cash, selling calendars or something like that. But this is when you do not have to let them in.

:)


Yeah I think if the owner had sent them he'd have had their name in a book. I very much doubt he was sent by the landlord.


Yes that's for blocks and I have seen those notices. I am in a rented semi detached house. It's privately owned by a landlord. He's very persistent, especially with his continual doorbell ringing. I'll have to write a polite note saying no thanks and hope he leaves it at that.

Please avoid excessive quoting

Every rented building with heating needs an annual inspection - it's the law. Without it, there's a risk that the insurance won't pay out in the event of a claim. It's not just the chimneys - they also check the functioning of the boiler, ventilation etc.

Re: insurance, yes the insurer's first question after a chimney fire would be about sweeping. I was told that for some premises it had to be done four times a year before the authorities got real. I believe once a year is now enough to keep insurers happy.

I don't find InWroclaw's quoting excessive. He addresses three specific points made by three different posters. This is getting a little anal.

@Roger5, I am a naughty lil' quoter and perish the thought I dare mention here again in a grey box what you said about the insurance co regs! I am grateful to yourself and my cousin thrice removed inkrakow for bringing this factor about the insurance to my notice. I'd prefer a sweep to put a card in my box to make an appointment with his tariff itemised rather than have a sudden hawker on my door in some odd outfit similar to a pantomime character. If the landlord isn't expected to do or organise this check, I'll get it done shortly. Much appreciate this info, thanks again.