Collapsed drain

[KirstenBlest]

Calling @PigletJohn please.

I think that the drain running through my garden has collapsed.

The concrete is cracked and looks to be sinking in places. It is outside the house but I live in a terraced house, and where it goes from there is probably under next door's extension.

What do I do, and how urgent is it?

rather than letting BC tell you what Thames Water would say, you could ask them.

you have build-over permission if you are going to put an extension on top of it. Does it not say anything? They probably have a policy or guidance document you could find online.

Or get somebody else to ask, "I am thinking of building an extension, does it matter if the underground pipe is clay or plastic?"

I think clay troublesome because it often has cracks and breaks at joints and bends, but I have only come across this in older houses that have good reason for it (Blitz damage). Modern clay pipe has a rubber-like joint which will accomodate a tiny bit of movement without cracking the clay.

A decent drainage company can advise and rectify if your responsibility

that

was a reply to @StarryBea

the topic is quite different to the one this thread was originally about.

see if you can get snet admin to split it off into a separate thread

it is quite confusing.

Thanks so much both @PigletJohn and @Harridan1981 Will try and move this conversation if I can work out how!
Were only told reason for Building control clay pipe query today… we thought it was just a building control concern… as build has already been held up waiting for them to approve the plastic we’re now worried that Thames water would take an age to get back to us… delaying the build further…guidance suggests replacing like for like from what we can work out… good advice to just call and see what they say… incognito perhaps!