Access to neighbour's attic for cold water tank

Alan_T_2

Hi all,

I'm not long moved in my new house, a 1930s semi, and I'm looking to replace my existing aging boiler with an A rated combi boiler. The one difficulty I foresee with this is that the associated cold water tank in the current system is actually in the neighbour's attic (the attic space has been divided by a wall at some point and I can't get access to it from my property). The neighbour has a combi boiler already, so no longer uses the tank as far as I'm aware, my system currently does but the combi system won't.

My gas fitter will need access to the cold water tank to drain and disconnect my hot water tank. I assume that I have a right to ask for access to do this. Is this correct? I think the neighbours will be ok, only spoke to them twice but they seem nice enough, but would like to know if they were difficult about it where I stand.

missile

A very strange arrangement, but if what you say is accurate, then I expect your neighbour will be glad to get rid of this tank. If you ask nicely I doubt he would deny access.

If your neighbour denies access, your plumber could easily freeze the pipe and fit a valve / cap to isolate the supply from the cold water tank.

diywhynot

Neighbours can be odd at times about access but as you said, they seem nice, so if you clearly explain the situation I would think it shouldn't be a problem. And a nice thank you gift e.g. bottle of wine will help lay a path for a smooth relationship with the folks next door.;)

Ectophile

missile wrote: »

A very strange arrangement, but if what you say is accurate, then I expect your neighbour will be glad to get rid of this tank. If you ask nicely I doubt he would deny access.

If your neighbour denies access, your plumber could easily freeze the pipe and fit a valve / cap to isolate the supply from the cold water tank.

Wouldn't it be easier to disconnect the supply to the tank, then just turn a tap on to drain it?

Of course, that assumes that the tank is fed from your water supply, not your neighbour's.

southcoastrgi

Ectophile wrote: »

Of course, that assumes that the tank is fed from your water supply, not your neighbour's.

i agree if the cold mains is from your house just turn the mains off drain the tank & cap off the mains in your roof, that way you won't even need to get into your neighbours roof.

robatwork

I am wondering if your ever-so-efficient surveyor spotted this as you may or may not have any rights of access and it should really have been pointed out in your survey.

You need to get it moved while you have "nice" neighbours but I still think any decent surveyor should have recorded this

Ectophile

If you can drain it and cap it off from your side, why bother removing it at all?

ListysDad

robatwork wrote: »

ever-so-efficient surveyor

A beast never seen in real life only on "I rebuilt my 16 bed mansion for £1.47" TV 'nothing-like-reality' shows hosted by Nick Know-nothing-at-all... :rotfl: