Neighbours overflow pipe

ed89

Hi

I live in a ground floor flat in a building that has 3 flats. The overflow pipe for the top flat has been pouring out down the side of the building wall for about a month now and is starting to cause damp on the inside wall of one of our bedrooms.

The middle flat has been sitting empty for over a year so I'm not sure if that is also affected but i dont think the water really starts running down the wall until it gets to the start of our flat.

The problem is that I have asked the guy on the top floor to take a look at it about 5 times now and although he says he got someone to look at it (whether that was a plumber or a mate I dont know) it is still pouring out.

My landlord has also had a word with him about it, as well as a neighbour (nothing to do with them!) and it's still the same.

The problem is the guy on the top floor only sleeps there and is out and about the rest of the time. He is a decent bloke - but what I can i do to actually get him to bloody do it!! I've asked plenty. Landlord has asked. Neighbour has asked.

It's none of our responsibility so I wish he'd just do it!! It's become so annoying that yesterday I went up a ladder and connected a hoover extension thing to the overflow pipe to direct the water away from the wall!

clutton_2

if this is a house which has been converted to flats is there not a management company which can repair this ? i would have thought this problem was a mutual one as it may be the roof water tank that supplies all three flats with water and is therefore a part of everyone's supply

ed89

Hi

not sure exactly. However my flat has it's own watertank.

cheers

aleksrothis

Try contacting your local water company? They may be able to issue a Waste Water Notice to the owner/bill payer to enforce a repair.

tanith

Tell that its causing damage to your flat and when he eventually gets it fixed you are going to charge him for the repairs to your wall etc... Put it in writing.. its gonna make a real mess if its not fixed

tux900

Agreed. A month is 29 days too long for something like this to go unsorted, particularly given it is having a negative effect on your flat.

Formally notify them of your intention to persue them for costs, and give them a time period before which you will take action.

In the meantime your hoover diversion was a wise move... Personally I would've been tempted to block the pipe but I wouldn't recommend doing that as you could find yourself in trouble... and the backing up of water may well then still find its way down to your flat... on the inside.

Mathew

davethetaller

It's become so annoying that yesterday I went up a ladder and connected a hoover extension thing to the overflow pipe to direct the water away from the wall![/QUOTE]

Can you not pop the other end through his open window ? ;);)

ed89

Hi

thanks for info. I'd rather he just got it sorted when I asked. Problem is he is decent enough - i see him in the pub now and then and he is friends with some of my friends. I'd rather not have some authority force him. Also - he has a pile of about 40 unopened letters at the door, so if they send him a letter, he isn't going to bother opening it!

I've told him it's causing damp - he said he'd take another look - still not sorted though.

greyteam1959

Tell the guy he is on a water meter !!!!!!!!!!!!!

princeofpounds

Writing a letter reminding him that a) the problem exists and b) he will be liable for any damages isn't too official. You don't have to write a letter before action right away which would put him on notice of an actual claim - tell him you wouldn't like to get involved in any serious issues because you like him as a neigbour.

If you want to write it even more softly, you can state that the freeholder could pursue him for damage rather than mention that you could.

But to an extent the soft-soft approach hasn't impressed on him the situation needs addressing.

ed89

Hi princeofpounds - that's a good idea. I'll maybe leave a note for him on the door as I have done previously, but state if there is any damage the landlord may wish to pursue him for the costs. Thank you!