Thames Water takeover of private drains and sewers

flyboytim

Yet another stealth tax on all including the least wealthy - what should have been paid for through rents now is to be billed to all water bill payers.

No-one living in council or private rented property will see a reduction in rent over the coming years in equal measure to the increase in their water bills.

No-one who does not have shared sewer pipes on their land will be discounted the increase in water charges.

Old pipes can be disturbed by changes in loading on the nearby ground due to construction, digging of footings, etc., so anyone wishing to construct near to or over the acquired pipework will now require permission from the water authority - and may incur a survey and inspection charge, a search or other administration charge, delays due to inspections and additional work to rectify any faults found. Work may possibly only be permitted by water authority approved firms (who will inflate their charges to maintain this accreditation).

These charges and delays could add hundreds, even thousands of pounds to the cost of converting a garage to a room, adding an extension or conservatory, building a garden wall or even constructing a concrete freestanding at the front of your property. New builds and rebuilds will also be affected, if the construction is within a few metres of existing pipework.

Such a takeover clearly is going to be profitable for the water companies, as well as councils, landlords and housing associations, since no water authorities are refusing to take part in the scheme, and whichever government bill set up this takeover was quietly passed without much publicity, or, as far as I can tell, public consultation.

winplease

Pre 1930's detached house - waste from 4 others. In 2009 began insurance claim. Company believed damage caused by crack in pipe. Instead of advised 2 days work, completed in 2 hours. Guy from drain company back last week suggests little fall but original work quick (part lined). Today claims handler states original work was as it requested. Could I expect this to be something water board would now address?

macman

Post 7 applies if the fault is in the common part of the drain (not on the part between your property and the common drain). So the water utility has always been responsible.
Don't understand the rest of your post and the ref to 'drain company'.
There is no water board-they were abolished back in 1974.

Gothicfairy

winplease wrote: »

Pre 1930's detached house - waste from 4 others. In 2009 began insurance claim. Company believed damage caused by crack in pipe. Instead of advised 2 days work, completed in 2 hours. Guy from drain company back last week suggests little fall but original work quick (part lined). Today claims handler states original work was as it requested. Could I expect this to be something water board would now address?

Sorry but I really don't think I understand the question