Neighbours drains

[Dodie66]

My neighbours have a problem with a blocked drain. They got a drain company out to try to sort it out but they couldn’t unblock it. They said the water board are coming out and putting a camera down to see where the blockage is tomorrow. We have bought our house but theirs is a housing association property. This. Is relevant. They said that the drains come across our land. We are worried because we had the garden landscaped with new patio, gravel and stepping stones etc and had it replanted too. I think they might need to dig up our garden which will include the patio. Who is responsible for putting the garden back as it is? Another neighbour had a problem with their drains collapsing and the housing association got a company to dig up their garden, replace the pipes etc. The garden was left in a right mess with big dips in the lawn and I’m worried they won’t put our garden back as it is now. We can’t say no to them accessing the drains really can we? Anybody got any advice? Thanks

You are generally responsible for drains across your land or there is a shared responsibility depending on where the leak is. The company will repair the leak but you may need to make good any dips and the final finish of the patio etc. Depending on the depth,soil,weather,their skills it may take time for the land to settle. But you would clarify before they start work what the end result will be. Take photos beforehand and stress you are expecting reinstatement to be complete. Clearly their estimate will reflect the work needed.

Thanks for replying. Good idea to take some photos. I’ll do that today

Thanks again 🙂

It depends whether they are a shared drain or not. Lateral drain responsibility is explained very well here. However, is responsible is also responsible to returning your garden, but you may need to consider if your landscaping could have damaged the drains in which case you may need to talk to your insurer.

Our landscaping couldn’t have damaged the drains. It’s just surface landscaping with no deep trenches or anything. The drains are a couple of feet down. Not sure who is responsible for the drains if they are on out property but are not our drains. Ours drains are a completely different set of pipes. Are the neighbours responsible for the repair?

Regarding previous post, you are not responsible for any drains running on your land that carry other people's waste. You have to avoid damaging them, but the water company owns and maintains them. However they do indeed have a right to dig if necessary, although they would have to reinstate a similar surface to a good safe level of workmanship. Given the cost of that they would do everything to fix it without disturbing the ground, including lining the pipe or sending a mechanical mole down.
The main thing as mentioned before is to get photos and ask lots of questions of the water company.

Thanks for all the advice. You are right re the water company. They said they are responsible for the pipes. They came out this morning and put a camera down and managed to unblock the pipe in 5 seconds that Dynorod Said they couldn’t unblock. They said the pipes are not in very good condition but good enough that they won’t replace them for now so I can stop worrying about the garden. They also said that Dynorod are rubbish at unblocking drains. My neighbour paid Dynorod £90. For anybody else that gets a blocked drain call your water company rather than a firm like Dynorod. Your water company won’t charge you
Thanks again everybody for your advice