help! neighbours drains are blocked and overflowing into my garden!

[microserf]

sorry to post in aibu, but i'm really desperate. looks like our neighbours' drains have blocked and their grey water (definitely) and toilet discharge (possibly - BOAK) is running into our property and down our drain. we've only just realised as the problem was pretty well hidden, but we can now see the (papery) residue and we're really upset.

the neighbours are lovely tenants, and are desperate to get it sorted. They tell me their landlord was supposed to come round this week to sort it out, but "failed to show". does anyone have any expertise in this area? i'm minded to go utterly fucking nuclear on the landlord who has apparently been ignoring drains problems for months according to the tenants. I have toddlers running round my garden, it's a health hazard!

to make it more complicated, next door is divided into 2 flats and there are two owners, both of whom rent out the property. we're definitely getting BOTH of their bathroom discharge... we spoke to the ground floor tenants only.

I don't think it would be a good idea to involve your insurance company in this because, if you make a claim, your premiums will go up. I very much doubt your insurance would let you claim for the neighbours drain anyway. The neighbours (or their insurance company) need to sort it out, if you aren't getting anywhere contacting them directly then call environmental health.

We had the same issue - problem with next door's drain but we got the fallout ! Both insurance companies spoke to each other to sort it out. If neighbour hadn't have played ball, our insurance company advised that environmental health from council serve notice on them and make them comply. Although there is a new sewer legislation from 1 October 2011 so United Utilities should be contacted - details on their home page

You share a drain. There would be one man hole that covers a few houses. The problem would be people putting sanitary towels, nappies down the toilet.

You need to call the Water board they will come out and fix it, however there would be costs incurred and the costs would be shared between those whose toilets filter through to that drain.

if you share drains it might not be then causing the problem could be someone futher along. I have always cleared our drains here myself with rods, it's cheap and does the job quickly. can you not get together with other neighbours and discuss it? bet someone would have a go

OP I've just done a quick google and most environmental health departments seem to have an emergency number. We had a similar problem when I was a child, except the source was a water company drain running under our garden, and DM got a very quick response because she had children who played in the garden.

I'd call environmental health and stress that your children can't play safely in the garden and how much of a health hazard it is. Before the LL turns up next door (or if he does) I'd also get the exact date, time and type of conversation (e.g. phone/text) the tenant had with him just in case you need to put it in a formal letter at some point.