Broken sewer - what can I do?

Mustard_Dave

BrownGirl wrote: »

Thanks guys - hopefully the council will get back to me tomorrow so I'll know if they can do/pay anything towards it or maybe even do it all and I just have to pay a share of it (which would be brilliant). He showed me the broken bit of the sewer on the camera screen and even with my untrained eye I could tell it was broken & not just cracked - it hadn't totally collapsed in all round but that section of the sewer will need replacing. He said it would cost more as its a concrete step & path which would need digging up to get to it and he said it would probably be two days work. Fingers crossed the council come up with some good news.

Not necessarily. Repairs can often be done effectively without excavation using a resin sleeve which is pulled into the drain, inflated and allowed to cure.

http://www.drainology.co.uk/PDF/DRAINOLOGY%20GIVES%20YOU%20NEW%20DRAINS%20FOR%20OLD.pdf

I'd get a second opinion if I were you.

tanith

We had a similar problem same circumstances , some owned and some council properties, we informed the council and they sent a team out to fix it.. this happened more than once in the years we lived there, we were never asked to pay anything .

BrownGirl

Thanks tanith - I was waiting for the council to get back to me today, which they did and were very helpful. I've arranged for them to come out on Tuesday to stick another camera down the sewer so we can confirm if it is a joint sewer or just my drain which has broken - if it is the joint one the council will write to all householders and serve notice so that we either have to fix it in a set time or if not the council will come and do the work then bill us our share individually so I wouldn't be responsible for getting the money from the other home owners. If its not a joint one then at least I know where I stand and they can recommend some contractors who I can contact to get it sorted (rather than ringing round the phone book again). They really set my mind at rest and I wish I'd known I could contact them to do this first before I got the private firm in - plus their hourly rates are more reasonable than the firm I got in. If anyone else is in the same situation I would certainly recomend contacting your local council even if its just for advice.

natnhay

Hi i am in a similar position, only difference is i think my house maybe pre 1937,so does this mean the waterboard are responsible.House is end terrace of 4 ,3 are private and one council. Neighbours (not joined) share the sewer so does this mean the council are part responsible too even though all the sewer pipes run along the side of my house and there are 2 drainage covers in my garden. Hope some-one can help clarify.

vaio

as others have said, if it it isn't water board maintained the general rule is the cost is shared equally between all that use it. On our deeds (1860) it's included in the details

macman

natnhay wrote: »

Hi i am in a similar position, only difference is i think my house maybe pre 1937,so does this mean the waterboard are responsible.House is end terrace of 4 ,3 are private and one council. Neighbours (not joined) share the sewer so does this mean the council are part responsible too even though all the sewer pipes run along the side of my house and there are 2 drainage covers in my garden. Hope some-one can help clarify.

If it's pre-1937 and the drain is shared then the water authority are responsible. The council have nothing to do with it-they are in the same position as any other property owner.