Neighbours, problem.?
Question:my neighbour built an extension on the back of his house 20 odd years ago, this was built before we moved in next door,they had a drain cover in their garden which they had rerouted into my garden with the verbal permission from previous owner .now i want to build out onto the rear of my house but this drain is in the way. could i have this removed back where it belongs at their expence,this is a sewer waste not rainwater waste.thanks guys for your valuable advise.
Answers:
I am assuming the neighbour had the drain cover moved so that it wouldn't be in/under his extension? If so it's going to be mighty difficult to put it back where it was, in the middle of his extension. Ok, so it was moved, but I think you'd have a job carping about it now, twenty years on and before you bought your house. But it's no big deal really. You can have it in your extension, all it needs is an airtight cover. Covers can be incorporated into tiling, or covered with carpet or rugs. It is still accessible if the need arises.
Ask at your local town hall planning dept.and the building inspectors will advise you. It is possible to build over drains... we did when we built our extension.
wow I think you need to contact the council as this could not have been legal,also your surveyor should have picked it up in the survey,Cab are a good source to contact also.Good Luck.
This waste drain may cause sickness or contaminate a well or basement .
They have to have a written right of way to use or cross your property and because it was underground you had no notice of it so it should not be grandfathered. Don't argue just call your board of health code enforcement they will depending on your area cite them for a violation and make them correct it, usually at their cost after all they did the damage and broke the code.
huh?
If you are serious and it is sewer waste, then the health department will fine both of you. I would talk to the neighbor and tell them that you are going to be having contractors and builders in the yard, and the drain is illegal. Explain to him that 20 years ago this type of thing was acceptable, but now you will get in loads of trouble. Ask that he have the drain replaced as soon as possible. I would not help him unless you trust him 100% because to be honest, he could blame you if he is inspected and it isn't done properly. A licensed plumber needs to fix this problem.
these days they put a sealed lid over,but you have to keep it within your property just incase u need access to it.contact planning department in local council for advice anyway.
Before you arrange anything it would help if you talked with your neighbour and explain the problem.
You carn't just put it back without at least talking to them, you still have to live nextdoor to them after all!
Getting it put back sound pretty easy though, as its your land and you no longer have to accept letting there waste go through it. If your neighbours are being difficult you can get a plumber who specialises in outdoor pipework and he can tell you your righs.
Drains movement shoudl have been part of thier original planning. If it was, you have no comeback. This is different to the verbal agreement. Waht did the council approve 20 years ago? Might be worth going to the planning office and look at the file.
In theory if it wasn't on the original plans you can object but it will be via planning department and they are unlikely to proceed as it CURRENTLY does not present a problem.
Re-routing a drain might cost you a couple of K. I'd rather swallow that that never speak to my neighbour again ( and still probably not get anywhere and end up paying yourself )
There are also solutions for keeping the drain in the house if the area is to be tiled.
Having destroyed and re-built a few houses I would say moving drains was just a normal hiccup in any job and just get on with it..lost count of the things i've taken on the chin to keep the job moving.
you can build over drain pipes as long as you put a lintle over them.
Reading thru some of the answers to your dilemma it it obvious that you need professional advice from your local council.
Just visit them ask them the rights and wrongs of it all and then go from there.
Like one poster has said no matter what happens you will be still living next door to this neighbour for years to come.
Be nice polite and helpful but stand your ground.
Good luck
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