Expert: Missing Chimney Sweeping Certificate Can Also Unexpectedly Stop Apartment Sale
Thousands of Estonian homeowners don't know that the annual chimney sweep certificate is not just a recommendation, but a legal obligation, the absence of which can halt the sales process and leave you without insurance compensation in case of an accident, comments Toomas Laigu, a real estate broker at 1Partner Kinnisvara.
According to Toomas Laigu, a real estate broker at 1Partner Kinnisvara, many homeowners unintentionally violate the law because they are unaware that regular chimney inspection and maintenance is mandatory in buildings with heating fireplaces. "The Fire Safety Act clearly states that in a building with a heating fireplace, the chimney must be inspected at least once a year and a certificate of inspection must be issued. This is not a recommendation, but an obligation, and if the certificate doesn't exist, then the homeowner is actually violating the law, even if they don't know it themselves," says Laigu.
The absence of a chimney sweep certificate can lead to both insurance disputes and problems when selling real estate. "Very often, the problem arises in real estate transactions where the sale is urgent. I've seen situations where the sale has been halted for weeks because the bank loan processing requires a chimney sweep certificate and it simply doesn't exist," says Laigu. He adds that ordering a chimney sweep in a rush may not solve the problem either, because unexpected issues may emerge during the inspection. "If the inspection reveals that everything doesn't meet the requirements at the heating fireplace, it often means ordering a stove specialist, additional costs, and prolonging the sales process. All of these problems are avoidable if heating fireplaces are inspected regularly in accordance with the law," emphasizes Laigu.
The question of who is responsible for chimney sweeping in apartment buildings often causes confusion. The 1Partner broker explains that in buildings with shared chimneys, the responsibility lies with the apartment association according to the law, but in practice this obligation is often simply overlooked, especially in smaller buildings. "In many small associations, for example those with five to ten apartments, there is often no manager, no one monitors deadlines, and chimney sweeping is forgotten for years. The problem often only becomes apparent when someone wants to sell their apartment and the process gets stuck behind the missing certificate," says Laigu and adds that professional property management companies are very valuable partners in such situations because they monitor deadlines and keep documentation in order.
1Partner's broker notes that chimney sweeps in Estonia are not standardized service providers and the quality of work can vary significantly between different specialists. "Some specialists calmly explain what's wrong, offer a solution, and issue the certificate the same day, but there are also those who don't provide explanations or delay sending documents," says Laigu. According to the broker, it's always worth clarifying before ordering the work whether the sweep can work in winter conditions if needed, whether the certificate is issued immediately, and whether it is sent to the association or owner. "A demanding customer generally receives better service, while a weak customer creates space for poor work. This principle actually applies to any service - if agreements and expectations are clarified at the beginning, there is a much lower risk that some important document will be missing or work will be done carelessly," recommends Laigu.
