Terms & Conditions
Gas Fires
Some flues serving gas fires can be swept without moving the appliance. This is usually identifiable by looking up the chimney and being able to see a void. However, if you cannot see a void, or the opening to the flue is narrow (long and thin like a letterbox) this usually means the appliance needs to be disconnected before gaining access to the flue. This MUST be carried out by a registered gas engineer before we can sweep the chimney. This must be arranged by the customer and is at the customer’s own expense.
Inability to sweep a chimney
In the event of being unable to sweep an appliance due to access issues, inappropriate installation or other hazards present, we reserve the right to charge a standard £70 sweeping fee. This will invariably include a camera inspection, bespoke advice on the nature of the fault(s), suggested remedial actions and, where relevant, completion of appropriate documentation.
Missed Appointments
A call out fee of £70 will be payable if, upon arriving at an appointment, we are unable to gain access to the property for any reason. To reschedule or cancel appointments, please call 0794 6707 906 by 6pm the day before.
Data Protection
The protection of Personal and Non-Personal (Technical) data is recognised as being important and therefore will be managed, protected and secured. All personal data will be treated confidentially in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) under the control of Heritage Chimney Sweeping.
Data Security
Hard-copy data will always be secured within a locked environment, when in transit or storage, and access will be granted to authorised persons only. Electronic data will be stored on laptop hard drives, protected by password protection, the laptops also secured within a locked environment when in transit (in vehicle) or use (office location). Heritage Chimney Sweeping will ensure that it maintains appropriate and current software protection on all electronic devices that it utilises.
Authorised Persons and Data Sharing
Only persons authorised by James Holbrook - the proprietor of Heritage Chimney Sweeping - will be granted access to data. James Holbrook will be the nominated individual responsible for data protection. Personal data may be shared with third party financial advisors and statutory bodies (HMRC) as part of the proof of invoicing and income required for accounts generation and tax audit purposes. Personal and technical data regarding services provided or appliance status data may be shared with the individual commissioning a service (landlord or agent) in the event that the resident is not the recognised owner or their authorised agent. It may also be shared with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps as part of its professional monitoring activities.
Data Retention and Deletion
Only the data necessary for the provision of the requested services and/or goods will be collected. It will be retained within the UK for the purposes of administering and managing customer and supplier accounts, and as required under statutory obligations. The data retention period will be determined by applicable legislation, specifically the requirement to provide evidence for tax audits 7 years after the end of the financial year to which the information applies. If not determined by legislation, data will be deleted 2 years after the end of the enquiry, service or goods provision to which it applies. Data will be securely destroyed after the end of the defined retention period.
Data Breach Monitoring
Under the GDPR there are strict requirements for the notification in the event of a data breach. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that any personal data has been lost, the applicable GDPR notifications will be made as required to the ICO and/or the individual data subject. Heritage Chimney Sweeping will act on any notification that personal data may have been breached, and separately, will undertake periodic reviews to ensure all hard-copy data remains secured.
Transparency of Data Processing and Data Subjects Rights
Under the GDPR all personal data should be processed lawfully, transparently and fairly. To ensure that data subjects are aware of their rights, Heritage Chimney Sweeping will provide individuals with Privacy Notices which set out what personal data is processed, for what purposes and why, and who it is shared with. In addition, they will be advised of their rights including their right to see, amend, and have erased their personal data. In support of this, individuals have the right to make a personal data Subject Access Request that will be responded to with one month as per the GDPR requirements. Where required, individual consent will be required for any activities that require consent, such as direct marketing for instance if undertaken.
Code of Practice
The Approved Industry Standard for Chimney Sweeps.
Heritage Chimney Sweeping abides by the following Code of Practice.
Chimney Sweeps must be trained in accordance with the Industry Recommended Criteria of both theory and practice elements of chimney sweeping at an Industry Accredited Training Centre. They shall not practice the trade of a Chimney Sweep until they have been assessed and deemed competent by a trade organisation meeting the Industry Standard National Code of Practice.
It shall be the endeavour of the Chimney Sweep to provide as thorough and as honest a service available, with respect to the dangers of fire, suffocation and ill health caused by the malfunction of such chimneys, flue ways and appliances.
All Chimney Sweeps shall by virtue of the hidden nature of the task advise and work so as to keep the occupier, user or property owner aware of such faults and hazards found during working. Under no circumstances shall a person trading as a Chimney Sweep use any methods which result in a chimney not being properly cleaned or probed by a brush, or suitable rod attachments. Care must be taken to prove a chimney to be venting by the use of smoke pellets.
Chimney Sweeping
- The practice of chimney sweeping shall be deemed to be the passing of an adequate sized brush, appropriate to the diameter of the chimney and flue used, through the complete length of the chimney. The brush may be put through by rods, viper & star, line & weights or rotary sweeping equipment.
- There is no acceptable method of cleaning a chimney using a vacuum cleaner only.
- A Chimney Sweep must ensure that they carry a sufficient number of rods, line & weights or viper to ensure that the brush will pass the length of the chimney or flue completely.
- Chimneys should be swept thoroughly with a brush or cleaning implement that is suitable to remove the products of combustion within the flue.
- Before any sweeping commences, the immediate floor area and fireplace opening/appliance and/or any access points must be protected using suitable sealing methods, such as sheeting and foam blocks, to keep mess to the absolute minimum before and during the sweeping process.
- All Chimney Sweeps must check that there is adequate ventilation and carbon monoxide alarms in all the rooms containing the flues and appliances they have worked on, as defined in the Current Building Regulations (Document J).
- All problems and faults found during sweeping shall be made known to the person with whom the sweeping contract is made, property owner or the operative of the appliance. All such problems and faults relating to the chimney or heating appliances shall be put in writing.
- The Chimney Sweep will endeavour to carry out a visual inspection of chimney stacks and flue terminations prior to the cleaning of such flues and appliances.
- The Chimney Sweep must not undertake work on any chimney or appliance that is deemed unsafe or dangerous (in accordance with the current Health & Safety at Work Act). Evidence of the defect will be put in writing.
- Soot from the sweeping process must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and will only be transported with the appropriate local authority's permission in the form of a waste carriage licence. Current COSHH statements must be carried in the vehicle.
- The Chimney Sweep must use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whilst undertaking their work and be trained in its use.
- The Chimney Sweep must adhere to their trade bodies' complaints procedure.
- The Chimney Sweep must hold adequate insurance for the work they undertake.
- The Chimney Sweep must carry a valid ID card.
Certification
After a chimney has been swept, the Chimney Sweep must issue an Industry Standard Certificate of Sweeping. Should any defects or dangerous occurrences arise, they must be recorded, an Industry Standard Warning Notice and label be issued and records kept.
Privacy Notice
Heritage Chimney Sweeping is committed to Data Protection and guarding your privacy. We will hold any personal information that you supply, or that we are given, securely within the UK to provide Heritage Chimney Sweeping services. We will only collect very limited basic personal data from you such as your name and contact details to respond to your inquiry, enter into a contract with you or manage your account. We do not record any personal data from you that we do not require.
Your personal data may be shared with the Guild of Master Sweeps as part of its monitoring of professional sweeps activities, and with Heritage Chimney Sweeping financial business advisors to meet its statutory business reporting obligations, it will not be used, or provided to 3rd parties, for marketing purposes.
If you would like further information about how Heritage Chimney Sweeping uses personal data, including your rights to data correction and erasure, please contact heritagechimneysweeping@outlook.com.
Your Rights
You have a responsibility to ensure that the data that you provide to us is correct. If it is incorrect, please let us know by contacting heritagechimneysweeping@outlook.com. If you would like to review the information we have collected on you, please see the contact email address above and state what information you wish to access. Only applications made in writing will be considered and you will receive a written response within 1 month of a request being made.
You have the right to withdraw consent for personal data processing at any time and have the information we retain on you erased if it is your wish and Heritage Chimney Sweeping does not have a legitimate reason for retaining it.
You retain other rights in relation to expressing or withdrawing consent, right to be informed and for data portability along with data rectification, automated decisions/profiling and objections. More details on these rights can be found at the Information Commissioner’s Office website ico.org.uk, where you may also lodge a complaint if you feel that Heritage Chimney Sweeping has not met its Data Protection obligations.