Commission a chimney sweep

  • Service description

    Legislation has largely abolished the previous sweeping monopoly. Since 1 January 2013, the chimney sweep no longer comes without being asked.

    You can now freely choose a chimney sweep company for the following non-public tasks:

    • Sweeping and checking your combustion system
    • Measuring the exhaust gas values

    Note:
    The following sovereign tasks will continue to be carried out by the authorised district chimney sweep:

    • Acceptance of your firing systems
    • Fireplace inspection: Within 7 years, the authorised district chimney sweep will contact you twice as usual.
    • Keeping the sweeping log

  • Procedure

    You must commission a company to carry out the chimney sweeping tasks.

    You are free to choose your authorised district chimney sweep or another chimney sweeping company. The work may be carried out by all companies that are registered with the chimney sweep trade in the register of craftsmen. As a rule, these are all German chimney sweep companies, but also some sanitary, heating and air conditioning companies. Chimney sweep companies from abroad can usually also be commissioned by you.

    To be on the safe side, you should always check whether the tradesman in question is actually authorised to carry out the work before placing an order, for example by checking online whether the provider is listed in the chimney sweep register kept by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.

    The Hesse State Association of Chimney Sweeps and the Central Association of German Chimney Sweeps offer you the opportunity to search for regional providers of chimney sweeping services on their website.

    You can obtain further information on chimney sweeping from

    • from your authorised district chimney sweep or your authorised district chimney sweep,
    • at the Federal Association of Chimney Sweeps - Central Guild Association (ZIV),
    • at the Central Association of German Chimney Sweeps,
    • with the competent authority named below.

  • Prerequisites

    You can commission a chimney sweep company as

    • Owners of house and flat property or
    • Property management of a condominium owners' association (WEG).

    Note:
    As a tenant, you are not authorised to hire a chimney sweep.

  • Which documents are required?

    The fireplace notice that was issued to you as the owner by your authorised district chimney sweep following the fireplace inspection.

  • What fees are incurred?

    • Non-sovereign tasks:
      You are free to negotiate the price for the work specified in the fireplace notice.
    • Sovereign tasks:
      The fees are set out in the federal sweeping and inspection regulations (KÜO). As the owner, you must pay these fees. The responsible authority will provide you with detailed information on this.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    The fireplace notice states when you must have which sweeping, measuring and inspection work carried out regularly on the heating systems. As the owner of a house or flat, you will receive this after each fireplace inspection.

    As the owner, you are responsible for complying with the deadlines specified in the fireplace notice. You must order the work specified there from an authorised company in good time.

    Any company that is registered as a chimney sweep in the Register of Craftsmen or fulfils the requirements of Sections 7 to 9 of the EU/EEA Crafts Regulation is eligible.

    The work is only deemed to have been carried out once the form confirming that the work has been carried out has been received by the authorised district chimney sweep by the deadline. As the owner, you are responsible for submitting the form and ensuring that it is received on time. However, you may agree with the company carrying out the work that it will submit the form for you.

  • Legal basis

  • Typing

    2/3

Who should I contact?

The competent authority for chimney sweeping issues is the local authority of your district, independent city or special status city.

Responsible departments