Big repair Bill

Bignskint

Hello all,

This is my first post even though I have been receiving the email money tips for ages.

I have a problem and would very much like to see if there is anyone out there who could give me some advice and save me some big bucks?

The water board dug my drive after water appeared in the road outside my house and found the source of the leak was under my house. They have issued me with a 14 day wast water notice and have said that the costs to repair are all mine. I have contacted my household insurance, no claim and an emergency insurance I have on the house and again, no claim. I am looking at a 2 grand bill just after Christmas and am despairing on how I am supposed to pay for this. Is it right that I have to pay and is there any way of ensuring that my insurance policy (or water board) stumps up some of the bill?

I would appreciate some help and guidance from either wise or just informed money savers!

Kind regards in anticipation.

Keith

deanos

If the leak is after the stoptap it is your responsibility, however some water company's will do 1 free repair up to where it enters the house, anything beyond that is your responsibility unfortunately.

Are the water co quoting £2k , maybe someone else could do the repair cheaper.

As for insurance i would read the policy to see if you are covered or not.

Good luck

everythingblogcast

Sue them for diggin up your drive without premission.

Cardew

I believe Deanos is correct in his statements; it is your reponsibility.

I would certainly look at the Water companies conditions and see if there is anything about them footing the bill for the first incident.

Other than that see if you can persuade them to contribute some of the costs.

If it is 'under the house' I would be very careful about letting another company do the work in case there is damage to your foundations.

Bignskint

Thank you very much for getting back to me so swiftly.

What you are saying is how I see it as well. I will get two or three quotes and see if I can get the cost down to a more manageable amount. Have you tried to get hold of a plumber that is in need of work at this time of year. I find this an unfortunate bill at a bad time of year. I may have to take money from savings and that is always a disappointment to me as it takes so long to put it there.

Thanks again

Keith

deanos

Not sure on your layout but it may be cheaper to get some plastic pipe and run it around the outside of your property, you can easily do this yourself but get a plumber to connnect it both ends, and if it happens again will be alot cheaper.

silvercar

we had similar on a house we were about to buy (luckily we hadn't exchanged). The water board served notice and said the bill would be about £1,000. The owner found a company in yellow pages that did it for £350 with a 10 year written guarantee. The leak was in the back garden, so not as difficult as under the house.