To try and block neighbours pool water from emptying into our garden?

[Udford]

We live in a terraced house on a hill; our neighbours sit higher than us. They have a huge, bouncy castle type pool for their kids and when they unplug the power it starts to deflate and a mass amount of water drains into our garden. This isn’t helped by the fact that our neighbours have completely concreted their garden, with artificial grass on top so the water literally slides off their land and into ours.

They emptied it once yesterday and so far, it’s been 3 times today. Our garden is completely water logged.

We have had loads of issues with them in the past so this is not one of those ‘talk to them as they might not know’ kind of instances and they do absolutely know that this is what happens and they don’t care.

We’ve recently had a new fence with concrete posts and gravel boards hoping that would at least slow the flow but sadly it hasn’t. Now thinking about taking future measures however, my husband seems to think it’s illegal to prevent the flow of water.

Does anyone know if this is the case and that we will just have to live this?

Sand bags so it stays on their side and doesn’t drain!!!

If you want to take any further action with the problems your neighbours are causing I would keep a record (diary and photographs) of what is happening for evidence.

OP, film it.

Have you house insurance?

If you do call them for advice with their names address and the video footage.

I am CACKLING 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Because of the resulting damage, compacting soil, damaging plants etc, there are laws forbidding this in Spain. (a lot more pools there!)

With any pool you’re not allowed to backwash or drain out onto a neighbour’s property. You’re not even allowed to have gutters etc, that drain ordinary rainwater in the same way.

The same must surely be the case in the UK.

Talk to a solicitor or your local authority.

There was a very similar problem recently on an 'ask a solicitor' bit of the DT, I think it was.

Their neighbour, who had once owned the land their house stood on so seemed to be territorial still, emptied their proper big swimming pool so it ran into the complaints' garden. The chlorinated water killed their plants.

The advice was that they had a very good legal case. Take photos, film it, log it all.

Good luck.

I can imagine it’s not permissible to block the flow of a river or stream. I doubt that means you have to accept neighbors emptying (chlorinated?) pool water into your garden.

Yes to this. They are liable for any damage caused to your garden.

Write a cease and desist letter to them. If that doesn't do anything and you have the legal help on your house insurance take it further.

Yeah I would agree with the knife option.
I had a similar issue years ago. The neighbour got a patio washer and was using it every bloody weekend and it flooded my patio every time 😒. I placed some housebricks where the water was coming through and that was job done. He only uses it on the front driveway now the novelty has worn off.

Apropros of nothing, but why are they emptying it 3 times a day? I understand that they don't give a shit, I just don't understand what they are gaining from it?

Is it a slip and slide?

Does it? Sounds more like they're just selfish and ignorant.

Report the concrete to the council. completely concreting a garden needs planning permission in many places because of water run off.

complain your garden is constantly waterlogged after heavy rain and it never used to be until they concreted and Astroturfed

then add on even on the summer months they drain their pool directly onto the ground and it flood our garden. Sometimes daily.

of there’s a a hosepipe ban I might also be that knob to report them for filling a pool.

Surely that only applies to natural flows of water, streams etc and not garden pools?

@udford please settle an argument.

Have you spoken to your neighbours about this issue?

How on Earth are the neighbours going to know it's a issue unless it's been discussed? Telepathy?

Can't imagine the authorities will do anything for months, if at all. Plus it will cause a load of upset.

Landlord, if there is one. If not, pins in the pool. Less obvious than a knife, just feign ignorance about it if asked, and go back to enjoying your garden before winter sets in.

Where do you live? There are 100 mumsnetters with pitchforks coming to deal with their pool right now (and I am one of them)

Don’t do it. You will feel so bad and you may get found out (they may have cameras around the house)

Be careful about reporting it OP, you are perfectly entitled to do so, but don’t forget if you come to sell your property you have to declare any disputes. If you are thinking of selling in the next few years, I think you should be cautious.

IANAL, but, as it is repeated and interfering with the reasonable enjoyment of your land, you may have a claim in private nuisance. Or, as has been said above, Ryland v Fletcher.

Either way, I'd suggest seeing if you have legal cover with your house insurance and, if you have, seeking advice.

It's only illegal to divert the flow of a natural body of water- a stream for example (and there are circumstances where permission can be granted). Blocking water from a emptied pool isn't illegal at all, and is probably wise to prevent damage.

Don't put a knife through it, put tiny holes all over in random places so they struggle to repair it.

Its def not illegal and if it is... who is going to honestly have you for that!! They don't even have time to investigate robberies. If your FIL is a bricklayer then I'd be getting him round ASAP to build that little wall... then sitting back with a nice glass of wine listening to them cavorting around next door, trying to stop the water flooding across their chavs concrete jungle.

We have a little drain/gutter thing in our garden our paddling pool drains into. If they are gonna insist on having a paddling pool then they need to think about drainage for it too!

I'd also become an avid reporter to the water company during hosepipe ban times of year... just to be an extra big bitch

Eyesight?