Intruding Pipe-Work and Structural Alterations

I just bought into a beautiful old co-op building. The construction of which is largely hard-wood timber and steel beams and load bearing exterior brick walls. The apartment I purchased had a lowered ceiling in the kitchen and bathroom. I was certain this lowering was unnecessary and sure enough after i moved in and removed the ceiling I was delighted to see beautiful thick old timber floor beams... [more]

I just bought into a beautiful old co-op building. The construction of which is largely hard-wood timber and steel beams and load bearing exterior brick walls. The apartment I purchased had a lowered ceiling in the kitchen and bathroom. I was certain this lowering was unnecessary and sure enough after i moved in and removed the ceiling I was delighted to see beautiful thick old timber floor beams which I would now like to keep exposed. However, on closer inspection my neighbor above (on the top floor) has protruded pipe work well into my apartment space, also it appears my neighbor had one of the floor beams completely cut off to get some plumbing through and now the beam looks precariously held up by timber struts to beams on either side. Is this something I can challenge? I would like to have an engineer inspect if it is even safe, is this something I should be responsible for? and how far should piping be able to intrude into your apartment from the one above? because it is well below the bottom of the beams. [less]