Neighbour thinks our drain is leaking

[MrsMozart]

At least I think that's what they think...

Edwardian houses. No shared brickwork, but they're very close to each other (think inch or so).

We did have a flooded drain a couple of times, but gave it a good clearing and no issues since then.

Had Dyno Rod out a few months ago and he said it's not blocked and wouldn't be causing an issue.

I've taken the shower out - it was the only water thing that side.

They've just been round at ten o'clock at night to tell me it's happened again. Admittedly I wasn't at my brightest or most welcoming having been in bed falling asleep. I'm not sure what they expect me to do at this time of night. I've told them what the DR chap said.

I've spent the last hour booking DR again and doing unsuccessful Google searches, so thought I'd ask the wise Mnetters - has anyone had the same situation, where a pipe isn't blocked, maintains the same level of water, but the neighbours say it's going into their house and running down the wall/going up the wall (this bit is not clear!) of their ground floor bathroom?

We've no sign of water or smell of damp our side.

I'm going to look again in the morning, including emptying a full bath in case there's some bizarreness going on. DR is due Tuesday morning.

Can't think if I've missed any vital bit of info out... The washing machine empties into another drain the far side of the house from theirs. The sewage soil pipe is also away from theirs.

Ah! One last bit of info - both floors of the relevant rooms are solid. They probably have tiles on cobbles or similar. I wonder if next door's damp proof has failed. Both houses have steep back gardens, but again we've never had a problem with any run-off.

If there is something going on then we of course want to know about it and get it fixed, but I just can't figure out what!

Do they not have insurance? I cannot for the life of me understand why you feel obliged to pay for all this.

Their insurance won't pay. They noticed it some time ago but didn't tell the insurance company, so when they did the insurance said tough.

We did have an issue with that drain being blocked twice a few years ago, which was when neighbours told us they were getting wet. It made sense at the time, that they'd have got wet from that, so we had it cleaned out and all was, we thought, fine, but apparently not. If we get the camera down now, if nothing is wrong then I can close that chapter as I won't enter into discussion with them about it again. If there is something then we'll get it fixed and equally it will be chapter closed.

DR not here yet. We were due to be first or second on the list, so I'm assuming we're second and the first is taking a while. Frustrating as have dogs to walk and I'd have taken earlier if not potentially expecting him at eight. Ho hum. Wish I'd woken earlier okay, but stinking headache put paid to that. Now it's raining. I hope that doesn't cause an issue.

Rain might even be helpful. If the water is coming from, say, a leaking downpipe or gulley, it might be more apparent.

Very true re the rain.

Update: It's us to a tiny degree. Their damp proof either doesn't exist or has failed. If it worked then they'd get nothing coming through. We're going to have the top drain bit changed so then there's absolutely nothing from us. Neighbours will still witter, but the DR man did a dye test and only a v small amount (of clear water) appeared next door. By this point I'd admittedly expected a flood of pink water. If they witter at us any more I'll lose the plot. There's nothing else we can do, they need to sort out their DPC. They're revamping their bathroom so I reiterated (again!) that they need to do the DPC before putting a new suite in.

Sorry a bit disjointed. Brain a bit fried.

Forgot to add: DR man very helpful and professional. Stayed for ages. Came up with suggestions. Explained to neighbours about the DPC and how these houses have (or should have) blue bricks to x height, etc. etc. etc. Says quantity of water from us not enough to witter about anything going on under the house. We have a builder coming next week to do the do, in the meantime we'll redirect that downpipe's water down a different drain.

You are going far beyond here. I would make it clear that as soon as your bit has been fixed the onus is on them to fix the problem and you will not be having any more discussion on the matter.

Aye. You're probably right, but this way whatever the tiny crack is it won't become a bigger one and cause subsidence, I'll be able to say with absolute certainty that we've done all we can and it's not our problem and we're in no part the cause, and hopefully retain some degree of neighbourlyness as it's been okay so far. I'll let them know when we've had the drain bit done, but other than that there'll be no more discussion on the matter.

Thank you all for your suggestions and support. It's been a much needed sounding board. Life sometimes really does tie one in knots.