Building over sewer

Lollo2304

Okay.... i tried to post an image but i cannot as i'm a new user.

Could you please look at this (broken link as that is all i'm allowed to do!)

http://
i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee76/lollo2304/bdf60e87.jpg

Not sure if you can see from this image, taken with my phone. This is the 'water survey' from when we bought the house. The blue line is the one in question that touches the house. The other line is the Foul sewer and actually doesn't get as close to the house as is shown and will be around 3 m away from the proposed extension.

The man hole was discovered when my dad relayed the floor. He never lifted it so i have no idea what it looked liked inside. The builders that erected the conservatory have 'skimmed over' the cover as well !!! Honestly would have thought twice about the house had we known any of this, we were led to believe it was a case of simply building over the sewer which was allowed (just they never bothered to ask) which is why we have an insurance policy in place in case they tell us to take it down.

We invalidate the insurance policy if i or a solicitor ask Severn Trent for advice. I have to obtain the insurance companies permission first which has be done via a solicitor!

I just want to know if it is possible/likely/unlikely that they will allow permission before doing all of the preliminary work. Could cost us a lot of money to find out they won't and we have to take the conservatory down!

tigeress289

Hello Lollo, have sent you a private message. Dont worry about solicitors this looks like a standard 4"/ 6" run. Are there any other manholes on your property?. Will wait for email and arrange phone call. cheers

tigeress289

Just looked at photo and can see end of terrace. You need to find out which way the drain runs to start with. Have next door got an extension? If not can you see their manhole? Have you spoke to next door and asked about drains?

whasup

Lollo2304 wrote: »

I just want to know if it is possible/likely/unlikely that they will allow permission before doing all of the preliminary work. Could cost us a lot of money to find out they won't and we have to take the conservatory down!

You will be allowed to buildover as long as it is not more than 150mm - which it sounds like it's not.

Severn Trent won't make you take the conservatory down unless it is poses a potential public issue - which it doesn't.

You are going out of your way to protect an indemnity insurance policy for a conservatory which you are planning to take down.