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[STMO123]

Its a grey area......

The system you describe is classed as a private sewer (until it reaches the main sewer) as opposed to a lateral drain (i.e. a drain used by one house).

It is indeed your (and your neighbours) responsability until it reaches the main sewer unless the intermedate connection has been adaopted by the local water authority (which is rare).

Your insurance policy should cover your liability for the repair though (not a good policy if it doesn't).

The Government were looking to change this and get the water authorities to adopt all sewers etc.....but given that its the public sector, its bound to take a while (its been 6 years so far!) plus you can all expect anything upto a £10 a year rise on your water charges when it does happen.

Its a brown area actually

[Nickbat]

No folks I have to argue on this point, given that Nickbats sewage is also communal as it serves 3/4 other properties then Nickbat needs to point this out to Thames water as this forms part of an official Act, which Thames water or any water authority will argue unless you poitn it out to them. Likewise, regarding CCTV surveys Thames water would potentialy not allow you to survey there sections of pipework. essentially Nickbat should CCTV survey up to his garden boundary to confirm whether the blockage/breakage is on his side of the boundary if it is then its his responsibility, if it is on the pavement or footpath/road then it is Thames water, as you do not own the road or footpath/pavement and to dig it up you would need to get licences. thames Water do not need licences for this type of repair work as they are statutory services, and it would also be classed as a emergency repair, due to the environmental issue.

Get back to them Nickbat.  

Mike, they insist that for houses built post-1937, the pipe to the main sewer is my responsibility - even if it is under the road. Furthermore, insurance comapnies won't cover it because they are not getting premiums from all the sharing properties. Think   I'm stuffed.

Thats the date I was'nt sure of, re; my reference to the Act which only applies to pre-1937 houses obviously, I take it all the houses are privately owned, none council?

The one of the other end of the block is council owned and the council are looking into the situation. Not hopeful, though.

[MikeDundee]

You may just be cheaper in the long run to buy some drain rods from local builders merchants and long sleeve rubber gloves, wellies and that and have a go at clearing it yourself, before you start forking out call out fees to drain clear companies

[STMO123]

You can get a 'worm' which fits to the end of the rods and bores its way through. Be careful to turn it in the right direction though, or it will screw off and become a blockage in itself.

[STMO123]

You may just be cheaper in the long run to buy some drain rods from local builders merchants and long sleeve rubber gloves, wellies and that and have a go at clearing it yourself, before you start forking out call out fees to drain clear companies

Or hire them

[Kevin Wood]

You may just be cheaper in the long run to buy some drain rods from local builders merchants

£29.99 at the local Homebase and I was sorted. That would have paid for the muppet to come back and fiddle around in the back of his van for about a nanosecond. Worth a try I'd say, just in case they're making a meal of it to get a few more callouts.

Doubles up as a chimney brush too, if I ever really want to get into SWMBO's good books  

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

Cheaper in BandQ

Rod set: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9271708&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=rods&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1179928500789&isSearch=true

or Wickes http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/420003

[Nickbat]

You may just be cheaper in the long run to buy some drain rods from local builders merchants and long sleeve rubber gloves, wellies and that and have a go at clearing it yourself, before you start forking out call out fees to drain clear companies[/quote

I've got four sets of rods which can extend from th e back of my house right out to the middle of the road. I initally tried rodding it myself, but when I found it was an unshiftable blockage under the road I gave up. The last engineer gave up with his heavy duty rods as well. I suspect something major.  

[MikeDundee]

You may just be cheaper in the long run to buy some drain rods from local builders merchants and long sleeve rubber gloves, wellies and that and have a go at clearing it yourself, before you start forking out call out fees to drain clear companies[/quote

I've got four sets of rods which can extend from th e back of my house right out to the middle of the road. I initally tried rodding it myself, but when I found it was an unshiftable blockage under the road I gave up. The last engineer gave up with his heavy duty rods as well. I suspect something major.  

I had a similar problem E.G., blockage would'nt shift, got the garden hoses out kept rodding it through the drain with the water turned on and that cleared it eventually, worth a try, if that don't work then you'll probably need to get CCTV survey.

[Allenm]

I had a similar problem to this, blocked sewer shared by 4 houses, only me and next door had insurance and it was a bit of dog fight over responsibility.  

Eventually, the council were called in to clear (they have to, it is a health hazard) and they charged the 4 houses in question,  It was about 6 years ago and my share was about £30.

You should then be able to submit the council's invoice to your insurance company for them to pay.

HTH

[Nickbat]

Result!

The council contractors came round. One huge fella gave it plenty of wellie with an industrial gauge rod and after about 15 minutes there was this huge rushing noise which went on for ages as all the system emptied itself into the main sewer.

The didn't ask me to pay as their job was for the council property on the far end of the run.


For information, I did check with my house insurance and a blockage outside my property is covered, although I would lose my NCB. Interestingly though, I read through the small print of the separate drains policy I have (through my water company) and found absolutely no mention of a shared  system being excluded from their liability to repair under the highway, so if it blocks up again in the next few days I shall point that out to them and demand a CCTV survey.

Now, back to that new Omega I was thinking about...  

[Auto Addict]

Result!

The council contractors came round. One huge fella gave it plenty of wellie with an industrial gauge rod and after about 15 minutes there was this huge rushing noise which went on for ages as all the system emptied itself into the main sewer.

The didn't ask me to pay as their job was for the council property on the far end of the run.


For information, I did check with my house insurance and a blockage outside my property is covered, although I would lose my NCB. Interestingly though, I read through the small print of the separate drains policy I have (through my water company) and found absolutely no mention of a shared  system being excluded from their liability to repair under the highway, so if it blocks up again in the next few days I shall point that out to them and demand a CCTV survey.

Now, back to that new Omega I was thinking about...  

 

[DaveL]

Have had a similar problem with my property except the sewerage came into the house as we were expecting guests for Christmas.  

Called out the emergancy water board crew and got the drain rodded. This happened over 4 times over the next 2 weeks. When the rest of the country awoke from the xmas/new year thing i contacted my insurance people. They quoted the post 1937 act to me. i then had the run around between the insurerance and water board. My property was built in 1720 (year not the time). Got all the cctv work carried out, quotes for repair and sent off to insurance. They then came back with it is not our problem. They eventually backed down when i started quoting hotel bills as property was not safe to stay in. They soon caved in and work was done. The insurance then passed the bill onto the water board to be paid.  :yThe obstruction was just on my boundery and turned out to be a tree root.

Keep on at your insurance and contact each of your neighbours to warn them as well. Always a grey area when differant insurances are involved. Enquire to your local enviroment agency/ council and see if the property has had this problem before.

Good luck and sorry this post is so long winded.  

[Nickbat]

Well, here we are 3 years on and the sewer collapse has become so bad that they can no longer jet it. The Borough have sent round two honey wagons in the last week but the inspection pit in my garden only stays empty for a few hours.

I have just been told by my Local Authority that a contractor has been hired to remedy the problem - which means digging a 3-metre+ deep hole in the road. Deep joy! 

Still, at least I'm not paying. 

[Nickbat]

Well, here we are 3 years on and the sewer collapse has become so bad that they can no longer jet it. The Borough have sent round two honey wagons in the last week but the inspection pit in my garden only stays empty for a few hours.

I have just been told by my Local Authority that a contractor has been hired to remedy the problem - which means digging a 3-metre+ deep hole in the road. Deep joy! 

Still, at least I'm not paying. 

Actually i couldn't pay. Methinks it will be expensive.