neighbours want to move drain into our garden?

nickydee5

Hi, sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place, but just need any advice/info! Our neighbours have asked if they can re-route their run-off pipe from their septic tank across our garden into the drain behind the house.
(Apparently the existing pipe is at right angles and tends to get blocked easily and they want to re-route it at an angle - preventing blockages - and also insert a manhole cover on our land).
Is there anything we need to be aware of before agreeing to this, can anyone see any potential problems apart from maintenance of the pipe etc? Just don't want to go into this blindly.
Thanks very much for any help

phill99

I would be very reluctant to do this.

If you are going to do it, you need to get it done properly. You need to see a solicitor to get an easement drawn up. You also need to make sure they have indemnity insurance in place so that in the event of a blockage and it causing their poo to be distributed all across you garden, it will get dealt with.

tony6403

I agree with Phill.
We have a manhole with cast iron cover which was put in the wrong place when our house and next door were constructed. It is surprising how irritating a cover which is not ours can be. For example, it has to be planned into garden layouts - on one occasion I had to pave around the bloody thing.
You may lose the freedom to do what you like with your land.

Norman_Castle

Apparently the existing pipe is at right angles and tends to get blocked easily

Can they replace this with a larger pipe and a larger radius curve?

iamcornholio

This would be potentially onerous, and if you were to go ahead you should get a Solicitor involved to draw up a suitable licence or covenant/easement and have this formally attached to both your property deeds. The neighbour pays for all this, and if necessary an annual fee

However neighbourly you want to be, don't just agree, as you never know what you are actually agreeing to at some future point in time

The ideal solution is that they sort their problem out on their land. It may be, that the fees for drawing up a proper agreement make it more viable for them to sort it out themselves in any case

paddyrg

It could affect your future plans for a shed or patio or decking or an extension. What are they offering? If you're doing this as a favour at least make sure they pay all your legal/expert bills (and not just rely on their lawyer/expert's reports)

nickydee5

Thank you to everyone for your replies, and for the advice on this (especially about easements and the alternative pipe info). My initial response is usually to be as helpful as possible, but I wasn't happy and was worried that I might be signing up for future problems without being aware of them, if that makes sense lol.
Will definitely be asking them to look at different solutions before using us as the easy (for them) option - thanks again everyone x

theGrinch

I would avoid. whats in it for you?

googler

nickydee5 wrote: »

Apparently the existing pipe is at right angles and tends to get blocked easily

Here's a few alternatives to go back to them with-

Suggest that they get a drainage contractor to install two 45 degree bends to replace the single 90 degree bend.

Or a wider 90 degree bend replacing the existing one.

Or construct an inspection chamber with manhole to replace the 90 degree bend.

All of the above are achievable whilst working within the curtilage of the neighbour's land.

cootuk

I thought the point of the septic tank would be to have a soakaway for the run-off water, and not for that water to go down a drain.
How do you deal with your waste?..do you have a tank too?

SailorSam

If you get on with your neighbours i think it's one thing to say Ok you can re-route the pipe and have it running under your garden, if they're going to put everything back as it was, but putting in a manhole is going to far. Think if you want to sell at any time in the future what prospective buyers may think.