Should I share my downpipe ?

Booley

Hi,

Today a workman knocked on my door and pointed out that the neighbour on my left doesn't have a downpipe at the front of her house and asked if I would object to him fitting one to her property and then connecting it to mine nearer ground level. I told him that it was ok and assume he'll be back at a later date to do the work.

Since then I'm wondering what, if anything, it might mean for me. Would it leave me open to shared guttering/drainage disputes ? The drain is quite small at approx 5 inches square so would i need to make sure that it will take the extra water ? Or does this seem like a perfectly normal thing to do ?

The neighbouring property has guttering at the front that is enclosed at both ends. Whilst this does seem pointless, the owner has had the property for near on 20 years and drainage hasn't been mentioned in the ten years I've lived here.

The owner lives a long way away and uses the house for holiday letting. About 4 years ago she was less than honest about some work she was having done and it had quite an affect on the enjoyment of my property. Since initial contact, we do not communicate and if there were any problems I don't know how easy she would be to rectify a problem with. So might I regret my decision ? Or is she legally entitled to connect to my downpipe ?

She already has a downpipe on her extension at the back of the property which just feeds rain water onto my patio as there is no drain there. I know I could object but I haven't.

Any advice before the workman returns would be very much appreciated.

Paul_the_Painter

Ah a beautiful solution - if you have contact with the builder, or when he comes back, say that you have no objection to your neighbour using the front downpipe - as long as the situation with the rear guttering is fixed!

This could be tapping into your downpipe, or putting the downpipe on the other side of the house.

Of course the builder may think that that is too much effort, and just put a new downpipe on the front, along with a new soakaway. But every builder I have known would far rather get the screwdriver out and re-route the guttering, than get the spade out and dig a new soakaway!

missindecisive

we share a down pipe with our neighbour, it's no problem:money:

System

if the neighbour doesn't have a downpipe what happens with the water running off his roof?
and if you and the other neighbour both have your own seperate rainwater drainage then so, surely, does the third one!?

nuttyp

Surely by sharing your down pipe, she is just doing it to save herself some money!! If shes not exactly been the most honest person in the past, i personally would avoid doing what has been requested. If there is any problems with the downpipe, who would foot the bill?? Would she pay half in the future, or is it all on your sholders.

maninthestreet

As the_r_sole has stated - what happens currently when it rains? Water must surely overflow the guttering on your neighbour's house like a waterfall??

keystone

Booley wrote: »

Today a workman knocked on my door and pointed out that the neighbour on my left doesn't have a downpipe at the front and asked if i would object to him fitting one to the said neighbour's property and then connect it to mine nearer ground level. I told him that it was ok and assume he'll be back at a later date to do the work.

There is no sense in that solution at all. It would be far more visually pleasing to make the join at the guttering itself (assuming the falls are OK) and use a single downpipe. There is more work in the solution proposed and more material required. Someone somewhere is playing you either its the builder ramping up the price to neighbour in their absence or the neighbour being less than honest with you again. Sorry to be suspicious.

The drain is very small at approx 5 inches square so would i need to make sure that it will take the extra water ? Or does this seem like a perfectly normal thing to do ?

Its not the size of the drain that matters - its the capacity of what it connects to. Having said that it is a perfectly normal thing to do.

Whilst this does seem pointless,

It does.

.... the owner has had the property for near on 20 years and it's not been mentioned in the ten years i've lived here.

So why change it now.

Or is she legally entitled to connect to my downpipe ?

Nope.

She already has a downpipe on her extension at the back of the property which just feeds rain water onto my patio as there is no drain there. I know i could object but i haven't.

If she has rights of drainage over your land (which will be in your deeds as well as hers) then there isn't much you can do. Its downright inconsiderate to arrange it like that though. TBH you should object anyway.

Cheers

Booley

Thankyou so much for your replies.

Well, as for what happens to the rain water going into my neighbour's guttering as it is now, I can only assume that it spills over. I've been thinking about it myself and have to wonder who set it up like that all those years ago.

Why now ? I am asking myself the same question.

Keystone, you mentioned the capacity. If I can find out what it is, it might just solve the matter.



Many thanks once again.