Neighbour wants to connect to our drains- what do I need to consider?

[Killerqueen2244]

I’ve heard rumblings that a neighbour, whose garden backs onto ours, is considering offering us money to be able to connect to our drain in the garden as they'd like to move off their septic tank.

As far as I know we’re the last house in a row of 4 of 5 so we already have these houses run through our drains anyway.

Our garden is a rubbish heap at the moment so disturbing that for the works wouldn’t concern me.

Would one more house connection be a problem? Has anyone had any experience of this and know what questions I should be asking if the neighbour does go ahead with asking us?!

Check with your local utility company whether it really is already a shared drain as this makes a big difference. Drains on your property used by only one house are your responsibility to maintain, those which are shared are the utility companies. (See image).

If it is just yours then I'm not not sure how the utility company would feel about you connecting someone to your drain and making them liable.

If it is already shared then it should be fine, but you'd probably need to check with the utility company.

Yes agree. Depends totally on whether your private drain will become a a multi use drain and therefore their responsibility.

However, could be more complex as I once had a really old house with a drain across the back shared by 6 houses and it appeared to be private. Not sure if the legal position has changed it now as it was a pain and we had to keep paying to have it unblocked.

Thank you for your comments both of you. I couldn’t find much on line so it’s obviously not a common thing...if it’s something that can be done at all. We’re all detached houses but our house is the last in the row so I do wonder whether it has the same set up as your previous experience @MarieG10

I think the law changed some years ago. Good advice here which is different to what I experienced with my old house but was a long time ago

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/sewerage/who-is-responsible-for-repairing-drains-and-sewers/

Speak to the water company