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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:

NicoAndTheNiners · 03/08/2018 12:01

Sadly the water board are unlikely to care. They only legally one the sewer mains. So the really big ones which are normally in the streets. Even shared pipes if they’re on private land do not belong to the water board. Very rarely a mains sewer will cross someone’s garden. But yes he shouldn’t have done it but I think you’d have to get your own solicitor to threaten him to remove it. House insurance may have legal cover?

OctaviaOctober · 03/08/2018 12:01

I wouldn't worry about future reciprocity, people have a tendency to be very hypocritical about these things, especially cheeky fuckers who move their manholes into their neighbours gardens! I wet along with my neighbours quite extensive plans, two years later she protested my application to move a fence a small distance (not onto her land!)

LookAtIt · 03/08/2018 12:01

Sorry about the typos in my messages. Forgot to check before posting.

Jaxhog · 03/08/2018 12:02

Definitely report it. At the very least, so the authorities can check it's not damaged the drain. But I'd also make them move it back. Unless their plans showed it moved to your property, then they can't just shove it onto your property! Check the plans they submitted to be sure.

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 12:02

Thanks BarbarianMum, it's good to know that it may be above board after all. If so, fine. I'll get a nice plant pot to put on it.

I'm absolutely willing to put up with disruption and I know it's probably even less fun for them, with a big hole in their wall right now. However on a few occasions they were out drilling concrete until 9pm, and their drive is full of building materials so they're parking on the street which makes access tricky. We're certainly a lot more patient than the neighbour on the other side, who has been screaming at the builders!

OP posts:

LookAtIt · 03/08/2018 12:03

BTW Have you looked on gardenlaw.com.?

serbska · 03/08/2018 12:04

Wow how did you miss them dig gin up your garden?

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 12:09

NicoAndTheNiners I think that has changed actually:

South West Water is responsible for lateral
drains serving only your property which
are outside of your boundary and connect
to the existing public sewer network, as
well as sewers serving multiple properties
that are within your boundary

I understand it's only private if it only serves your house.

OP posts:

Gluetap · 03/08/2018 12:11

NicoAndTheNiners, I’m not sure if that’s strictly true. We had to have permission from our local water company to build over the public drain that connects our house and the neighbours house to the public sewer. They also specified where the new manhole could go as you’re not meant to build within 500 mm of a drain or a manhole cover as the foundations can affect the drain/sewer.

InTheRoseGarden · 03/08/2018 12:12

What a cheeky fucker. Tell him to move it onto his own property. What if you want to extend? He has just shifted the problem over to you. Very neighbourly. I doubt the water board will have much interest in the trespass aspect of this. You really need to woman up and speak to him.

greendale17 · 03/08/2018 12:15

To move a manhole you need permission from the water board.

I would report this ASAP as it will have consequences for yourself if you do nothing and it stays in your house. For example water plans won’t be updated etc.

NicoAndTheNiners · 03/08/2018 12:17

Ah I used to work for a water board but admit it was 15 years ago so yes quite possibly changed!

MikeUniformMike · 03/08/2018 12:18

Report it immediately.
It will cause problems if you want to extend or sell and because it is in your garden, it will become your liability.

tryagainsardines · 03/08/2018 12:19

Can't you have a word with one of the builders about it to find out exactly what went on? Then if you have to confront your neighbour you'll have some info behind you (I'm not talking about telling tale etc- just some background info)
Hate stuff like this. Some people are so brazen.

SavannahSky · 03/08/2018 12:21

When there's a problem with the drains doesn't the cost fall yo you as it's on your property?

Are you willing to pay in the future if there are issues?

You are putting a plant pot on it and ignoring it?

Blankscreen · 03/08/2018 12:21

If it only serves his house he can move it without consent. However if it only serves his house and he has moved it into your garden he needs a deed of easement for the passage of services through it. This would involve your mortgage company consenting too.

If it is a shared drain you need consent from the water board to move it.

In any event it should not be in your garden without your consent.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 03/08/2018 12:21

If you looked at your house on Google Earth, could you zoom in on your garden in enough detail to see it?

Blankscreen · 03/08/2018 12:22

Better to say now while it's easier/cheaper for it to be resolved.

BlueBug45 · 03/08/2018 12:26

@ToadOfSadness it is allowed to have them in the floor with access.

@NicoAndTheNiners not true. It depends on what UK country you are in and when the housing was built.

aaarrrggghhhh · 03/08/2018 12:30

Definitely do not accept this.

Singlebutmarried · 03/08/2018 12:32

Totally off topic, but thanks op for the use of chinny reckons n

Original poster

kikibroom · 03/08/2018 12:35

Singlebutmarried Nothing like neighbourly disputes to take you back to the playground

Okay here is what I am doing:

Find out if his drain was definitely fully on his side of the fence
Talk to water board
Talk to neighbour
???
Drink gin

OP posts:

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 03/08/2018 12:37

Even shared pipes if they’re on private land do not belong to the water board.

This is not true any more - thankfully! We had a blocked pipe on our property very recently, but as it's a shared pipe, the water board came and dealt with it the day we discovered it, no problem.

speakingwoman · 03/08/2018 12:44

you need to do it now. don't let it fester.

Petronius16 · 03/08/2018 12:48

You should ask for advice from the water authority - if they haven't approved it there could be problems if you want to sell.

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