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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to shop my neighbour to the water board for moving a manhole cover?

73 replies

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 11:10

Sorry if this is boring. I've been on the internet all morning trying to become an expert in drainage regulations.

My neighbour is building an extension across the back of his house. It's within permitted development and he's been friendly but not particularly considerate about it. I'm generally willing to put up with it in the interests of being neighbourly, and in case I want to do any work to my house in the future.

However there's now a drainage inspection cover in my garden, and I don't think it was there before. If I hold my nose and have a look in there I can see drains coming from at least one other property, so I assume it's not a private drain.

I asked him about it and he said it was on the boundary line and he's just moved it a few inches. Chinny reckon. I think it was on his side.

Assuming it's a public lateral drain, he'd have needed permission to move it. I don't think he got it, because the cover is only 250mm away from his wall and it should be 500mm.

Why do I care about a stupid little plastic cover? Well, I've already got one! It's only about 3 metres away from the other one. Why should I have two ugly covers on my patio so he can get his garden exactly how he wants it?

I don't know if it'll cause me any bother when I come to sell my house. And what if his plumbing packs up and a load of gubbins comes out in my garden?

I called the water board this morning and they're (apparently) going to call me back so I can speak to someone in planning. Is it worth me making a fuss about all of this? Or should I just put a plant pot on it?

OP posts:

Rainbowtrees · 03/08/2018 11:14

It’s certainly worth looking into as I assume if you wanted to build an extension you would now have difficulty.

littlecabbage · 03/08/2018 11:16

How did he put in in YOUR garden? Isn't that trespassing?

araiwa · 03/08/2018 11:20

You didnt notice your garden being dug up??

reallybadidea · 03/08/2018 11:22

Yeah how did you not notice workmen in your garden and it being dug up?

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 11:23

littlecabbage Fair point. The extension comes up to the boundary so he's had the fence down and has had to dig part of my garden for the foundations. I gave permission for that as he'll make it right after - to be fair they are doing a neat job.

OP posts:

Hidillyho · 03/08/2018 11:24

I don’t understand how they could have done it. Especially without you noticing?

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 11:27

They had to dig partway into my garden for the foundations, so they've just moved the inspection chamber to the edge of the trench they already dug. It's not easy to see this part of my garden from inside the house and I'm trying not to be a scary face peering out of the window all the time!

OP posts:

reallybadidea · 03/08/2018 11:30

What a cheeky fucker then! Can't imagine it will cause you too many practical problems but who wants two manhole covers in their garden?!

SavannahSky · 03/08/2018 11:32

Go round and ask him to show you his letter giving permission?

Stop googling and go and confront

You'll know more then

Ginosaji · 03/08/2018 11:37

Total cf! Hopefully the water board will be helpful, def don't let him get away with it!

Also i think henceforth he should be known as drainzilla

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 11:42

I sort of wish he had managed to put a manhole smack in the middle of my garden without me noticing. That would have made for a better thread.

We get on quite well and I really want to live in this house for a long time so I'm not very keen on confronting him. I just need to steel myself, don't I? Otherwise I might just daub an offensive message on his front door

OP posts:

Lucisky · 03/08/2018 11:44

He can't do this! Make a fuss and get him to move it back while the builders are still there. There is another thread (I think in property) where someone's extension is compromised because the neighbours won't give permission for a similar drain to be moved over a bit onto the neighbours land. If he won't move it voluntarily I think all the big guns will be on your side.

Aprilshowersinjuly · 03/08/2018 11:47

Similar thread yesterday only it was from the neighbour wanting to move it!! They haven't acted legally by just doing it op!!
Get photos now, seek legal advice today.

ToadOfSadness · 03/08/2018 11:48

Dump a bag of cement in it if he won't put it right, try to get it as for to his side as possible so that the drains in his house back up. If he queries it then tell him it didn't seem to belong to your property so you closed it off in case it collapsed.

SlartiAardvark · 03/08/2018 11:49

I'd check with the authorities, he may be able to do it - the covers tend to be at junctions of pipes or as close as possible - it may not have been physically possible to keep it where it was if it was going to be under the foundations, and moving it more into his property may not have worked either.

Best to have all the facts before storming in - but on the other hand, if you leave it too late it won't be rectifiable...

Clairetree1 · 03/08/2018 11:54

just pop over and say " oh by the way, the men have inadvertently replaced this in the wrong place, did you realise? ask them to pop it back before they go this afternoon, thank you"

BarbarianMum · 03/08/2018 11:55

We're just in the process of moving one onto the boundary (our side). Weve got the right certification but will be close to our wall - certainly less than the distances you quote - and special arrangements had to be put in place to allow this. Dont know what they are, just that they are possible.

Can I ask how he's not being considerate? Im concipus that our build must be disruptive to the neighbours but can't see what we could change to make it less so. Building work is inherently noisy and dirty I think but if there was anything I can do (other than apologise, thank and gift wine) I'd want to do it.

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 11:55

Thanks all, I did spot that other thread during my Google education. There the manhole was definitely on the boundary line, whereas I'm fairly sure (and my wife is certain!) that in our case it was completely on the neighbour's side. I need to dig out the drainage report from when we bought the house, presumably it's on there.

OP posts:

Gluetap · 03/08/2018 11:56

If he’s actually built over a public drain or sewer, or within a certain about of one, he should have had a build over agreement.

reallybadidea · 03/08/2018 11:56

I really can't see how either of these things would give him the right to move it into the OP's garden without her permission. I'd love it if you were correct though - I've got a fucking ugly manhole that I'd dearly love into my arsehole neighbours' garden (although I suspect that I'd then be the arsehole!)

I'd definitely pursue it OP.

IdaDown · 03/08/2018 11:56

I think you’d remember if there was a manhole cover there before. It’s not the type of thing you forget as you’re mowing around them.

Anything on your deeds/conveyencing pack from when you bought? Or old photos of the garden?

Ask the builders if they moved it and keep pestering the water company.

ToadOfSadness · 03/08/2018 11:57

Actually there is usually more than one of those covers on a run, so there must be one further along on his property too. He may not have needed to move it. Many properties have extensions built over drain covers and some have them in the floor with access, not sure if that is allowed though.

If there is another one at the front then he could manage with that. Don't ask me how I know this stuff, it hasn't been fun over the last few years/houses.

LookAtIt · 03/08/2018 11:58

This is why it’s amistake to let neighbour ave access to your property for building works. I know it’s neighbourly but there are so often problems. Sorry no helpful advice but I’d pursue it. I wonder if he will say that you agreed to it.

LookAtIt · 03/08/2018 11:59

Have you any photos of the area before the building work?

Bluntness100 · 03/08/2018 11:59

He may have been able to do it if there realistically was no other easy option. Was there?

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