Next door overflow is making my brickwork wet

Pablo662

Hi, I'm a home owner, and tenants are currently living in the house next door. Their toilet overflow has been leaking for two months. I have informed the owner (whom I know), the letting company, and the tenant. The tenant said they'd fix the leak but haven't. The letting company have tried to gain access but the tenant isn't currently cooperating. My brickwork is wet from the leak and I'm concerned about the damage it may cause if it continues. I'm also about to put my house on the market and want the problem sorted before viewings start. How do I stand legally to get their leak fixed?

Thanks in advance to your reponse.

Paul

NyimaR

It might be a fairly easy fix and if so you could volunteer to do it yourself. I had an overflow problem last year and all that was needed was the ballcock needed adjusting - it was a quick spanner job!

Pablo662

NyimaR wrote: »

It might be a fairly easy fix and if so you could volunteer to do it yourself. I had an overflow problem last year and all that was needed was the ballcock needed adjusting - it was a quick spanner job!

Thanks NyimaR... the problem is that they're not very cooperative. Silly really - I've fixed many leaky cisterns, but the tenants really don't want to help out!

googler

If the overflow pipe is reachable with ladders, get out there, fix a flexible hose over the pipe and lead the hose down to ground level, either into a water butt, or into an open drain, or onto the neighbour's garden.

OR

Offer to fix it for the tenants.
Offer to fix it again the next day
Offer to fix it again the next day
Offer to fix it again the next day
Offer to fix it again the next day
etc

They may crack after a week or so and let you and your spanner in....


(The nasty way that you couldn't even consider would be to plug the overflow so that it backs up and floods their bathroom. They'd get it fixed then.)

If they had one of the modern cisterns that overflows into the bowl, they would have had it fixed by now.....

westv

Sorry, but when I read the title of the thread I had bit of a Kenneth Williams moment....ooo matron!

tbs624

If the T is refusing access to the LA/LL then ask the LA/LL to at least do the hosepipe job as described by Googler.

Remember that if you are selling up you have to answer the following questions on your SPIF:

2 Disputes
2.1 Do you know of any disputes about this or any neighbouring property? (delete as applicable) no/ yes (please give details)
__________________________________________________________________________________
2.2 Have you received any complaints about anything you have, or have not, done as owners? (delete as applicable) no/ yes (please give details)
__________________________________________________________________________________
2.3 Have you made any such complaints to any neighbour about what the neighbour has or has not done?
(delete as applicable) no/ yes (please give details)
__________________________________________________________________________________
3 Notices
3.1 Have you either sent or received any letters or notices which affect your property or the neighbouring property in any way (for example, from or to neighbours, the council or a government department)?
no / yes / copy enclosed / to follow / lost
3.2 Have you had any negotiations or discussions with any neighbour or any local or other authority which affect the property in any way?
(delete as applicable) no/ yes (please give details)
______________________________________

G_M

Write to the tenants telling them you intend to sue them for damage to your property. They have refused to fix the problem, or to allow access by their LL/LA to fix the problem, therefore they are liable.

PasturesNew

Get a ladder and length of hose, affix hose to the end of the pipe that's overflowing, redirect the water back to their property/land.

olly300

G_M wrote: »

Write to the tenants telling them you intend to sue them for damage to your property. They have refused to fix the problem, or to allow access by their LL/LA to fix the problem, therefore they are liable.

Over the top.

Simply taking the measures already stated i.e. hose and asking the tenants repeatedly is enough.

C_Mababejive

Buy to let blight Britain. a facility which allows scum to live beside hard working people.

Solution...bung overflow up with wine cork. The scum will soon fix it.