Legal rights over rainwater downpipes
jbm
able to help. However, one thing did crop up, the matter of planning
consent. Around here, planning consent isn't needed for an extension that is
less than 25% of the original floor area of the property, all floors
considered, and that any extension is confined to one storey. So, here's the
problem.
Things have got really unpleasant with my next door neighbours. Although
they haven't spoken to me at all for over a year, a few days ago they
"ordered" their other neighbour to cut his wisteria down off "their" fence.
That went down like a lead balloon, and a few choice words were exchanged.
He is a good friend of mine, and this attitude has pissed off both of us.
Just over a year ago before things went sour, I was "ordered" to tell my
friend to cut down his hedge on their side of the fence. So you see what I'm
up against; they don't ask, they order.
They are doing a lot of rebuilding at the moment, it's been going on for
almost a year, and a couple of weeks ago they had the guttering replaced on
their house. We live in the middle of a terrace (wisteria, them, me,
another, in that order), and the roof drainage is fed down a single downpipe
front and back on the boundary between them and me. Front is on their
property, back on mine. As part of the gutter work, a new section of
downpipe was installed from their gutter into each of the downpipes about 18
inches below the guttering. They didn't ask my permission to touch what I
would have thought was my responsibility, that is the downpipe on the back
of my house and on my side of the fence.
Question 1: Did they have the right to do that without asking me first?
Last week, they started having a conservatory built on the back of their
house. At the moment, one single 68mm downpipe is taking drainage from 102
square metres (horizontally measured) of sloping roof covering the 4 houses.
By my calculations, that is more than a single pipe is designed to take (my
information states 88 square metres for one 68mm pipe on a pitched roof).
This conservatory is about 21 square metres in plan. Though nothing has been
said, I have a suspicious feeling they are going to try and feed the
drainage from that into the downpipe. This will give a total catchment of
123 square metres, some 40% over what the downpipe was designed for, and an
extra 20% over what it's taking at the moment. If this extra water were
allowed into the pipe, it would be possible for the pipe to become
overloaded, and the water to stop flowing (momentarily) out of the gutter on
the roof of the house. This could then create a syphoning effect, with dire
consequences, the extreme being the collapse and possible rupture of the
downpipe bringing the guttering down with it (sorry, for getting technical,
but that's what could happen).
Question 2: If that's what they intend to do, can I stop them?
The real question is, I suppose, although the pipe is on my land and I am
responsible for it, who actually owns it? The deeds of the house state that
each owner is responsible for the drains under their land, although they are
classed as shared and used by other houses.
If anyone out there ahs any experience on these matters, I would really
appreciate your input. Thanks.
jim
Roland Perry
jbm <n...@home.ok> remarked:
>Last week, they started having a conservatory built on the back of
>their
>house. At the moment, one single 68mm downpipe is taking drainage from 102
>square metres (horizontally measured) of sloping roof covering the 4 houses.
>By my calculations, that is more than a single pipe is designed to take (my
>information states 88 square metres for one 68mm pipe on a pitched roof).
>This conservatory is about 21 square metres in plan. Though nothing has been
>said, I have a suspicious feeling they are going to try and feed the
>drainage from that into the downpipe.
Where does the water in the downpipe go?
It may well be the case that building regulations do not allow them to
feed the water from the conservatory roof into the drains - they may
have to create a soak-away.
--
Roland Perry
steve robinson
They probably wont need your permision , the pipe serves both houses
>
> Question 1: Did they have the right to do that without asking me
> first?
>
> Last week, they started having a conservatory built on the back of
> their house. At the moment, one single 68mm downpipe is taking
> drainage from 102 square metres (horizontally measured) of sloping
> roof covering the 4 houses. By my calculations, that is more than
> a single pipe is designed to take (my information states 88 square
> metres for one 68mm pipe on a pitched roof). This conservatory is
> about 21 square metres in plan. Though nothing has been said, I
> have a suspicious feeling they are going to try and feed the
> drainage from that into the downpipe. This will give a total
> catchment of 123 square metres, some 40% over what the downpipe was
> designed for, and an extra 20% over what it's taking at the moment.
> If this extra water were allowed into the pipe, it would be
> possible for the pipe to become overloaded, and the water to stop
> flowing (momentarily) out of the gutter on the roof of the house.
> This could then create a syphoning effect, with dire consequences,
> the extreme being the collapse and possible rupture of the downpipe
> bringing the guttering down with it (sorry, for getting technical,
> but that's what could happen).
>
If they extend the property they must uprate the downpipe or
install a seperate system
You wont get a syphoning effect (at least not in domestic
situations), if the pipe cant take the flow then the water will just
spill over the top of the guttering , your pipes are not going to
implode or your guttering come crashing down .
The figures you quote are worst case senerio effects its rare we have
that level of rainfall
> Question 2: If that's what they intend to do, can I stop them?
>
You can contact building control who can make them correct the
problems
> The real question is, I suppose, although the pipe is on my land
> and I am responsible for it, who actually owns it? The deeds of the
> house state that each owner is responsible for the drains under
> their land, although they are classed as shared and used by other
> houses.
The down pipes are not part of your underground system
>
> If anyone out there ahs any experience on these matters, I would
> really appreciate your input. Thanks.
>
Contact building control if you feel that they are not constructing
within the legal framework .
If they are doubling up the capacity i would request they have a
survey done on the drains to asertain if they can cope with the
additional flow of water with a view to them installing a seperate
system
RobertL
> Hi folks. I posted this in the uk.weather group yesterday, but no one was
> would have thought was my responsibility, that is the downpipe on the back
> of my house and on my side of the fence.
People have not commnented on this aspect of the original posting.
The neighbour joined his new fall pipe into the OPs fall pipe on the
OP's land. I would be very surprised if he is allowed to do this
without permission. However, from the OPs' description we are dealing
with a very bulling neighbour who is used to barging his way through
life.
I suspect this is all being done without the knowledge of building
control.
A difficult situation indeed.
Robert
TTman
SNIP
>
> Question 2: If that's what they intend to do, can I stop them?
>
> The real question is, I suppose, although the pipe is on my land and I am
> responsible for it, who actually owns it? The deeds of the house state
> that
> each owner is responsible for the drains under their land, although they
> are
> classed as shared and used by other houses.
>
> If anyone out there ahs any experience on these matters, I would really
> appreciate your input. Thanks.
>
> jim
>
concerns. If there are any REAL issues, they may well act upon it.
If not, I think you will be up the creek without a paddle and best leave it
alone.....
As another poster said, the chance of bringing down the guttering is zero.
Zapp Brannigan
> I would suggest a 'chat' with you local building control officer to air
> your
> concerns. If there are any REAL issues, they may well act upon it.
> If not, I think you will be up the creek without a paddle and best leave
> it
> alone.....
> As another poster said, the chance of bringing down the guttering is zero.
I agree, grass them up to BC but don't worry about syphonic gutter
rupturation (I think someone's been pulling your leg there).
jbm
Hall is on the cards, though they are as useful as a f**t in a gale.
jim