New neighbours drainage request

[NewNeighboursRequest]

We have lived in our house many years. New neighbours to one side where we have very little space between our house and a brick wall. Other side of the brick wall is their side access and door to their kitchen.

A few years ago we spent quite a bit of money putting in a better drain on our side for our utility / laundry room, included digging up the driveway for better drainage pipes etc. No shared drains though.

This side area is very, very narrow and as it is,quite difficult to do maintenance due to lack of space. As it’s quite dark there, DH has some work every few months clearing out moss etc to ensure nothing get into the drain (even with drain cover). We have recently moved our kitchen to this side of the house, so we have additional use of this drainage with kitchen sink and dishwasher. Have already had dynorod out once this year to clear a blockage.

New neighbours would like to create some type of covers area their side and use our drain for run off, putting guttering on our side of the brick wall (which is directly in the boundary). Guttering would be head height. Drainage to go into our drain. It would be easier for them if the drainage snd guttering were on our side.

I said whatever they wanted to do their side of the brick wall is no concern to me but no, we didn’t want the guttering on our side and no, we didn’t want them to use our drain. It would fall to us to keep it clear of moss (lots of moss already falling into this area from their roof but didn’t say that) and blockages, that we didn’t want extra things to worry about maintaining this or having to ask them to do so, would not be easier for us.

Now I’m wondering if IABU to have said no. Also wondering if they can just go ahead and do this. Would we have any recourse?

To put into context, we used to have a shared drain with house on other side (was in our driveway) and we would often have blockages that were caused by our neighbours - who never shared cost of clearing. Thankfully, when major renovations were done, the plan included installing their own drains.

We don’t want a repeat of lots of blockages that we have to deal with (and pay for clearing).

If have said the exact same as you so no, you weren't unreasonable. What is the guidelines on guttering and run off anyway? Surely it's not usual to allow your run off guttering flow onto a property you don't own?? Not sure the legalities though.

• I'd have said not if.

A quick google says it's classed as trespass! Who knew.

We would have said no as well , surely they would then have to have access to your property to maintain their guttering .

I would have said no too. Not out of spite, but purely for practical reasons. Of course they want to share your drain, it's the cheap option for them, and they have no maintenance costs or responsibilities. They would have to come onto your side to maintain their guttering, which would cause you massive problems if it wasn't maintained. Having next doors guttering at head height, hanging over your already narrow side access would be reason enough, but a multi household drain on your property could cause damage to your property.

Having had shared drains, I’d say no. They can sort their drains out on their own property. Very much not being unreasonable. We had good neighbours but still got the odd comment about their issues. Wasn’t our fault or problem their house had hijacked onto ours! They have their own drains now and it’s made things much better, from both sides.

Thank you all. Relieved I wasn’t being unreasonable. Didn’t want to make that my first impression on new neighbours

mighty relieved they can’t just do it either.

You are definitely NBU.

Imagine when you tried to sell your house? A lawyer/surveyor would flag this up to a potential buyer who might run away screaming. I would!

No, no, no. That would be my reply.

Of course, YANBU. They are CFers. Just keep saying NO. CFers are all the same, you give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

It also may be worth checking with your Water Company, surface water drainage and roof guttering may not be permissible drainage into the main sewerage system. It certainly isn’t where we are - are roof guttering drains to soakaways.

If this is the case, stops you feeling like the bad guys - which of course you are not. It’s an unreasonable request which would no doubt cause you serious issues in the future if you let their plans go ahead.

*are = our