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Original poster

extension with manhole in - yay or nay?

37 replies

PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 15:13

I've been looking at a house on RM for a few weeks and thinking it's so lovely why hasn't anyone snapped it up and deluded myself it was the house for me that's why. But yesterday I saw on the pictures (not sure how I missed it the other trillion times) that it's got a manhole in the middle of the kitchen which is in the extension.

It's covered with matching flooring lid, but would you buy a house with this? I'm in London and lots of houses are extended so I am assuming lots of people have done it, or maybe they moved the pipes.

What do you think?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 11/09/2017 15:14

We have one. Was done years ago so we haven't changed it.

Ttbb · 11/09/2017 15:15

What is the manhole for exactly? Is it for access to water pipes etc? Or is it acmurder dungeon?

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 11/09/2017 15:18

Would DynoRod have to clear any blockages through your kitchen floor?!

Polomintini · 11/09/2017 15:18

We have one. Better than having it moved as that could cause further problems down the line, you keep it in case anything goes wrong and someone needs access but it is tiled with matching tile and you don't see it or care about it. Loads of side return extensions have same and I've never heard of problems

amaliaa · 11/09/2017 15:25

We have one. It's for access to drains, never caused us any problems.

When we had someone jet out the drains a few years ago, he did it from the outside of the house.

Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 15:38

amaliaa how did he do it from the outside - do you have another manhole in your back yard?

I'm not sure what it's for, I've not viewed the house. I imagine it's a waste pipe which I guess would be pretty yuk if it needed to be unblocked from my kitchen.

But does that make up for the rest of the lovely house and the potential bargain I could now get (it's actually been listed for quite a while)

OP posts:
amaliaa · 11/09/2017 15:44

The other one is in front of the house, but same idea.

IIWY I would definitely go view the house. Now that you are aware, you can have a look for a drain cover outside.

WindwardCircle · 11/09/2017 15:48

Not residential, but I worked in a building where the break room had a manhole in it. The waste pipe under it backed up and the whole ground floor got flooded with a poonami. I wouldn't buy a house with a manhole which led to a waste pipe in it after that.

trevortrevorslattery · 11/09/2017 15:49

Our neighbours had this under their extension and the pipes burst. It wasn't pretty!

gamerchick · 11/09/2017 15:50

Manhole in the house? Sorted for the zombie apocalypse then Grin or any other nasty business where going underground is a fine idea.

In reality you probably need to go have a look at the house and ask a few questions.

Allthebestnamesareused · 11/09/2017 15:50

We had an extension done 15 years ago and it has a matching floor lid (wooden floor). We haven't had to open it once! The house currently has a tenant in or I'd post a picture.

There is another one outside too a bit further along.

Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 15:51

oh the last two replies!

OP posts:
Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 15:52

Gamer do I really need to go down the poo pipe if the zombies are coming Shock

OP posts:
gamerchick · 11/09/2017 15:54

Well im all for other exits. Grin would it be worth the potential poonami? No idea!

Maybe there is special insurance for that type of thing.

SerfTerf · 11/09/2017 15:56

The NN is a coincidence is it?

amaliaa · 11/09/2017 15:57

Grin special insurance for the zombie apocalypse

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 11/09/2017 16:01

I would check if the buildings regs are ok and if the water company consented.

When we were looking at extending in London it was going to be over the man hole and we had to get permission from Thames water to move it. We absolutely could not build over it. This was about 5 years ago.

How old is the extension?

Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 16:06

Serf no Blush

It's for the amount of nappies I've changed and the countdown to the last pooey bum I ever have to wipe that's not my own Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 16:07

Serf fecking hell, I mean yes it is a coincidence. Double Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
PerfectlyPooPoo · 11/09/2017 16:09

thanks for the link moving.

Think I might ring the agent and have a chat. It's on with about 3 so I guess this might be why.

OP posts:
SerfTerf · 11/09/2017 16:12

Does that make you a kind of half-hearted poo trolley then? 😏

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 11/09/2017 16:13

Bear in mind agents lie...

Ime there is no way Thames Water consented. That said, you may be able to negotiate extra hard and get some indemnitities to cover. A good conveyancer should know.

Treborextrastrong38 · 11/09/2017 16:15

Ask whether anyone else's poop feeds into it - it might only be your own, or just other people's kitchen waste, in fact it might not even be for foul but just sink & dishwasher water. Definitely don't discount the house on this basis - our friends have an internal manhole in their kitchen from a previous extension. Never caused them a problem in 20years. They're not actually permitted anymore - you have to re-site the manhole, but the old internal ones are built in such a way so as to not cause back up problems inside. Also you could do your own drainage search if you were serious about offering.

Treborextrastrong38 · 11/09/2017 16:17

Thames water may well have agreed to this - internal man holes were allowed previously. I imagine the entire London housing stock has public sewers running under it so anyone who is squeamish about poop running under their feet had better get out of the city Grin