Must I pay a sweep to clean chimney at French home or can I do it myself?

Reader Question: Our second home here has a chimney – do we have to hire someone to sweep it for us or can we just do it ourselves as it is only small? Is it expensive to hire someone?

Rules on keeping chimneys clean are strict in France, in a bid to reduce fires. 

A 2023 decree requires chimneys to be swept professionally at least one time per year, and property owners must have a certificate from a qualified chimney sweep (Certificat de ramonage) to prove this. This is the rule regardless of size or type of chimney.

The sweep must have a dedicated business offering this, with the 81.22Z APE or NAF business code, to officially provide valid certificates.

It is best to get an invoice from the sweep showing estimated costs before hiring them, as this way you can also see they are correctly set up. 

It usually costs €50 - €100 to hire a professional to sweep, although it may cost more for larger chimneys.

It is important to note that many departments require chimneys to be swept twice per year, particularly for wood stoves – as do certain insurance companies. 

You can check the rules in your department with your local mairie.

With regard to insurance companies, you may not be covered for related damage if you cannot prove you swept your chimney the correct number of times (with the certificates to prove it). 

It is best to read your home insurance policy, or contact your insurer, to see specific rules. 

In rented buildings, it is often the responsibility of the tenant to organise the sweeping (or the landlord will do so and charge the tenant for the service). If the tenant has to do this, the fact should be mentioned in the rental contract. 

Read more: Neighbour’s chimney blows smoke into our French home: what can we do?

Regular maintenance of chimney essential

Hiring a professional is mandatory as they have the tools to reach parts of your chimney you cannot, and – providing they have the right qualifications – have undergone the necessary training to spot issues a layperson may miss. 

This does not mean, however, that you should not keep up with regular maintenance of your chimney if you wish. 

This includes keeping the gate and metalwork of a closed fireplace clean, and the area around an open fireplace tidy, and checking equipment is up to date. 

This may help with reducing overall maintenance costs, as well as further reduce the risk of potential fires. 

Read more: What are the rules for wood-burning stoves in France?