Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this an illegal water connection?

16 replies

Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 17:30

Posting for traffic, sorry!

I bought my house in 2019, it was a new house built on existing foundations/part of the old house. I hadn’t received a water bill so contacted the water company who came to look and it turned out the water connections with my house and some nearby flats were all a mess.

The flats have had their connections properly done and are being billed correctly. The water company came today to sort mine out but it transpires they can’t work out where my supply is coming from. They suspect a neighbour but don’t know which. This is termed an illegal water supply. Their solution is to bill me a fixed rate and walk away from the problem.

Obviously, if I come to sell the house, I don’t want searches to reveal an illegal connection! Has anyone been through this? How much of a problem could it be?? I am freaking out a bit ☹️

OP posts:
Ownedbymycats · 14/07/2022 17:33

I've a similar issue and have really poor water pressure at present.It's very difficult to resolve when you don't know where your water comes from.

QuebecBagnet · 14/07/2022 17:34

No idea but hope the poor neighbour isn’t on a meter and has no idea! The solution sounds ok for you and if I was a buyer I’d be reassured by the fact the water company aren’t bothered. 🤷‍♀️

you could probably insist on a legal connection and I think the water company have to oblige however there would be a charge. Years ago dh inherited an old property with no water supply, water was from a well in the cellar. The quote from the water company for a connection was horrendous but there was a massive field to dig a channel. Iirc we paid someone cheaper to do all the digging and then the connection charge was much cheaper.

Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 17:35

How do you pay? Through a fixed bill?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 17:36

@QuebecBagnet that sounds reassuring. Even if they had to dig up my patio to get to my house I’d rather they did that than have the word ‘illegal’ appear anywhere.

OP posts:
Geekygeek · 14/07/2022 18:07

Same process as for any new connection. You arrange for the pipework from your house to the water main (usually under the nearest road) at your cost, water company connects to network via a meter (for a charge) and then charge you based on usage. Once connected, cap off the original dodgy supply (or connect a tap to it for "free" gargen water 😊). Depending on complexity, could be a few £1000 to do.

That covers the potable / clean water. I'd also be worried about your foul and surface water drainage. Is that correctly setup?

Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 18:17

Thanks @Geekygeek that sounds doable. As for drainage…I don’t know. How would I find out?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 18:22

Also what would they have to dig up to make the connection? How would they find the pipes?

OP posts:
DogInATent · 14/07/2022 18:26

Did you buy from the developer? 2019 is only three years ago, so on a new build I'd be chasing up the developer and lining up a solicitor if required.

Can we assume that there are not that many neighbours it could be, and that whoever it is is likely to want to know if you're tapping off their mains connection? If so, it shouldn't be that hard for the water company to figure out which neighbour it's coming from if it's being taken off after the meter. You can even do it yourself. You just turn on one of your taps with a direct feed (i.e. not fed from a CWST, kitchen tap should be perfect for this) and turn-off the neighbours stop-cocks on the street (with the neighbour's permission) one at a time until your water stops running.

MadeInChorley · 14/07/2022 18:32

If you bought in 2019 and it was a new build (of sorts) the solicitor should have done a Water and Drainage search as part of the due diligence for conveyancing (or at least offered to do one - some people do say no to save £50 or whatever). That should show where the water company thinks your property attaches to nearest public sewer and the potable water comes from (I say thinks because they have been known to be wrong). Get a copy of the search and see what it says. If it’s wrong versus what they told you about illegal supply, then you may have a claim against the water company. It may also give you clues as to what is going on. Also, if you bought from a developer, what did they say in Replies to CPSE enquiries and on water and warranties for the quality of the building work.

MarsQueen · 14/07/2022 18:34

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 18:34

This is all really helpful, thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 18:36

Unfortunately the developer is a cowboy - this is just the last in a long long of issues ☹️

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 14/07/2022 19:13

Hiphopfrogger · 14/07/2022 18:22

Also what would they have to dig up to make the connection? How would they find the pipes?

I don’t think they need to. You will have a pipe coming into your house somewhere, normally near kitchen sink. Chop it off, cap it and join in the new connection?

its easy to trace a sewer, the water company (or a private firm) can use what’s known as a cat and mouse to trace the sewer (assuming you have a manhole). You could also lift your manhole and see which way the pipes are laid to give you an idea of direction.

QuebecBagnet · 14/07/2022 19:13

Was the house covered under an NHBC guarantee? I’d be contacting them if so.

DogInATent · 14/07/2022 19:20

I don’t think they need to. You will have a pipe coming into your house somewhere, normally near kitchen sink. Chop it off, cap it and join in the new connection?
They can't deliberately leave a dead-leg in the supply. It's a potential health issue for everyone else on that supply.

QuebecBagnet · 14/07/2022 19:37

Good point. Forgot about the unknown neighbour 😁

New posts on this thread. Refresh page