to think he’s blocked his own drains?

[Springersrock]

Just as a bit of background, we live in a small, rural-ish estate. Our drains are crap and we have a cesspit - we can’t even use quilted/luxury type loo roll as it blocks the drains.

We are in a row of 3 and we share a main drain. Our house is nearest the cesspit. As we’re the first house on the drain run, when they get blocked, we end up calling out Dyno-Rod as we’re the ones affected first - we always get stung by the call out charge as everyone else feigns ignorance - ‘oh, our drains are fine’

Earlier on next-door-but-one called round. He had sewage flooding his garden and he had to call out Dyno-Rod, would we go thirds with the cost

For once, we are absolutely fine, as are next door, so AIBU to think he’s blocked his own drains and can pay his own bloody bill?

Yadnbu!

Sure, if you get him to agree in writing that all call outs are split equally in the future

*sure you should split I mean

I agree - use this to establish the rule that all sewage callouts are now a shared expense.

I'd say "great, here's your bill for the 1/3 of the last x number of call outs over the years" and see what he says!

I meant to add, DH is all for a quiet life and is up for paying as it’s only £30 each

I think he’s got a bloody cheek, £30 or £300, he can fuck right off

I would sympathise heavily and quote all the terrible examples where you have bourne the cost for the row and then say something like... My adviser always said the costs would even out over time and that there was no point spreading the bill on those previous occasions, I guess they were right after all. I recommend xxxxxxxx company...

If you are 'nearest' the cess pit and are OK, as is the next to you then it is definitely his problem. You could be neighbourly and establish a system whereby every time it needs rodding you all chip in but that might be more effort than it's worth.

I would point put that in the past when theirs haven’t been blocked they’ve refused to go thirds - but say if you can agree going forwards that any future drain costs are divided equally you’ll think about it

Thanks all!

The whole thing drives me nuts. We all know we can’t put anything but loo paper down the loos, but every time we’ve had to call someone out they’ve found stuff like nappies, tampons, wet wipes, etc.

We’ve got our own rods and will have a go at clearing it first, and there we are poncing about in other people’s shit because they are dickheads about it.

Offering to pay this time, provided they commit to paying their share next time (and there’s always a bloody next time) is a good idea

If you get them to agree that if you chip in they have to next time then get that in writing & signed by everyone!

Is it worth getting an agreement drawn up between the three households?

If you know you never put anything but loo roll (non quilted soft on your bum stuff) then you could maybe let them know the findings of previous roddings.

Also the water board (not sure
What area you’re in) also send people out to do few paying work that is a fraction of the cost of dynorod

You can then officially go turds on all costs.

There are three houses on our drainage tank so we split all the costs three ways. It's a biotec so not just a cess pit, there are additional costs.

Yes, blockages are often caused by something other than toilet paper and as we're a house of two who don't use wipes, cotton wool, sanitary items or nappies, we know it's not us, but split three ways it's not so bad and we all get along amicably. That's the most important thing and seeing as you're the end of the run they'd be well advised to stay on your good side incase you blocked their access to the tank

We shared drains in a row of 4 terraces and it was in our deeds that maintenance of the drains was a shared expense. Have you looked to see what your docs say about the cesspit and drains? They may well be obliged to split the cost.

Sounds similar to my parents house. The drainage system where they live has been added onto many times, but when it blocks it tends to collect at the junction near to my parents' house.

They used to have a neighbour who was a council tenant who used to call out the drain people, but when the property was bought privately my dad bought a set of drain rods. I think it gives him some kind of perverse satisfaction .

Apparently it's nappies that cause the biggest problem. Why would you flush them?!

Thanks!

Yes, we have looked into it - we have a load of covenants about what colour we can paint our front doors and whether we can put bushes in our front gardens (we can’t) but nothing remotely useful like this.

I assume you pay council tax?

They will have a drain unblocking section - set tariff and they send letters to all parties in the run of drains

We were in a row of 5 and the idiot said let a tree grow into the drain!

We all had to pay our share

Look it up and stop paying the private companies

Sorry, posted too soon.

It’s basically, whoever calls them out gets the bill.

We tried our water board but they wouldn’t come out, even as a paid job. It was a while ago now though

You ring the people in the council offices not the water board

If they all agree to share costs, get it added as a clause to all your deeds, then it will still stand even when the houses change owners.

I would move!

(I say that having lived in a remote cottage - my mum had to rod the drains every few months until the fuckers completely collapsed).

’Go turds’

Frustrating that it's not in the deeds. I would definitely try for a cost-share agreement at this point while you have a little leverage. If you can't get that, and you are having to pay out frequently because of things your neighbours are flushing, maybe look into the cost of having your drainage feed into the septic system separately. It may be cheaper in the long run.

I missed go turds

Our council don’t deal with it, they just referred me to the water company when I rang them. Unless things have changed in the last couple of years.

Will definitely have a chat with them all