Illegal drain

[Jenga0808]

Sorry this is SO boring but I’m a bit lost and not sure who to ask for advice on this.
We live in a Victorian terraced house. All the other houses have their kitchens at the back. Ours is as the front. This probably should have rung some alarm bells but unfortunately I didn’t hear them sad
We have recently discovered that our kitchen sink and washing machine drain into a soakaway, rather than into the main sewage system. Probably due to time and it being completely inappropriate for the job, the drain has become blocked and will flood our front path if I use the washing machine or sink. I have to assume a previous owner of the house moved the kitchen and didn’t consider drainage. The current situation is illegal so we need to rectify it ASAP. We had a survey undertaken prior to buying the house and under drains, it says that a full drain inspection wasn’t undertaken, but that the drains all lead to the main sewers! This is not the case!
Has anyone else experienced similar? Where do I stand legally? Anywhere? Do I need to speak to a solicitor? Am clueless

It’s probably worth going back to the surveyor not quite sure how to word it but it’s says clearly they go to main drains and that one doesn’t. I never challenged a survey later on, I have had drains put in. With a mini digger and plastic piping it’s nowhere near as expensive or difficult as you would think. You need a capable builder with a can do attitude and a good dose of intelligence and a near by main sewer to tap into. I think you need to notify building control, ring them up at the council and ask any you definitely need to tell the water authority if you are going into their sewer. Last time I altered drains I relaid and rerouted a public sewer (any drain more than one household uses is the responsibility of the water authority) and there were no additional costs from the water authority, I just paid my builder to do the work.

Thanks sprouts! That’s so helpful. You’ve made me feel a bit more brave now!

How is it illegal?

@CoronaIsWatching

How is it illegal?

I think it’s because grey water shouldn’t go into a soak away, only rain water should.

Yep exactly that.

How long ago did you buy? Check your insurance polices for legal expenses insurance and you could consider going against the surveyor and see if you can recover any costs that you'll now need to incur.

If you'd have known, would you have bought the property or have made a reduced offer?

3 years ago. We’d definitely have thought twice! Maybe made a reduced offer.

Yikes! I'd be consulting a solicitor and making a claim for negligence. Check the surveyor is still in business and has public liability insurance.

You've got 6 years so you're still within time.

Look on the Council planning website for your address and any work needing building regs, planning or notification. It will say if the job has been signed off by building regs etc. If previous owner applied for a permit to alter any drains they will sign it off and notify building regs. You may find some info there.