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Neighbours and My Drain

2 replies

TheMixedGirl · 17/08/2024 20:41

Hi all. Hoping for some legal advice. For reference, we live in a semi-detached house. My neighbour wants to drill a hole in the brick boundary wall to discharge surface water into my gully. He has substantial channel drainage on his drive, but for some reason, it doesn't discharge into his rainwater gully on the other side of his house. It was likely installed incorrectly by previous owners.

There are houses on my road that do not have walls or the walls stop short so there is a gap between the house and the boundary wall so I get that the natural flow of water will go downhill. In addition, some of the houses do have holes in their boundary walls. However, I am of the mindset that just because this happens with other houses, I am not obligated to agree to anything. They may not fall in line with current guidance.

I need to add that previously was a hole in the wall, but we blocked it up as it was causing damp issues within the home. It's been blocked up for quite a few months. Also, a very small portion of his guttering goes down a shared down pipe into my gully, which, as a goodwill gesture I am happy to maintain. However, the surface water, I am not - especially given the damp issues. It's.too small a gully to serve the surface water too.

I have checked all title deeds and the water drainage search from when i bought the property, nonr of which state the gully is shared - which he insists it is. From what I have read and my limited understanding is that drainage or water discharge cannot be a nuisance or cause damage to your neighbour.

Any advice?

OP posts:
Nextdoor55 · 18/08/2024 13:29

Why does neighbour believe it's shared? I'd ask for the information he's relying on to make that suggestion.
But I'd also say that getting on with neighbours means give & take, so if said neighbour wanted to do this with my house I'd probably say if they get a survey to guarantee it won't cause damp or damage & he'd cover it if there was any issues I'd be happy to do it. Explain your worries to him as communication is far better than falling out.

Brahumbug · 21/08/2024 14:04

As a general principle, you do not have a right to discharge water onto a neighbour's property unless there is an established easement to do so. Refuse unless he can provide evidence to the contrary. Don't just check your title deeds, check his as well

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