New Build Shared Ownership / Water Pipe Leak - Help pls!!

laura_d

Hi everyone,

I bought a new build under Hyde Housing's Shared Ownership in July 2007. It's a 1 bedroom flat and I own 50%.

For the first year, my water bill was £20 per month. In years 2 & 3, it was £13 per month - good times.

At the start of year 4, it hiked up to £44 per month and at the start of year 5 up even further to £98 per month. At this stage I realised something was hideously wrong and got on the case.

Anyways, long story short, Thames Water confirmed there was a leak. They then did nothing for 8 months, then just before Christmas, confirmed it was on my side and gave me 6 weeks to have it repaired. They suggested Hyde Housing would be responsible for the repair as freeholder so I got in touch with Hyde, they raised a works order and have spent the last 6 weeks sending various people out to look/listen/scratch b@lls at it.

Today, 3 days after the deadline to have the pipe fixed, Hyde advised me that it's actually my responsibility as they are only responsible for communal & service pipes.

Ok, so my questions/comments for input are...

• My water charge hiked at the start of year 4, from £13 to £44. However, this increase would have reflected usage throughout the previous year. Therefore, I suspect the leak actually started at some stage during year 3.
• I would have thought new pipework installed with a new build property should last longer than 3 years - are there any plumbers on here that would know or be able to give their comments? Are there any consumer rights that come into play here?
• I have an NHBC warranty but have been advised it does not cover 'incoming feeds' into the building.
• Hyde have now put me in an incredibly difficult position, whereby I have a very limited amount of time to arrange funds to repair the pipe. The deadline set by Thames Water has now been and gone but I have managed to agree a short extension which they won't extend further. Anything I can do here other than beg/borrow/steal?

Apologies for the rambled nature of this post, lots of lines of thought going on...!

Many thanks
Laura

Cardew

If the leak is not in the communal or service pipes, where is it?

The leak cannot be in your flat as we are talking many thousands of litres.

Where is your meter?

laura_d

Hi Cardew,

The water meter is set approx 5 meters away from my property. The pipes feed from there, into a bin store (where the stopcocks are) and then into the properties. Thames Water are responsible for a short section of the pipe but the customer is responsible for the rest.

Hyde are advising that as I am the sole customer of the pipe, they are not responsible for it (each property has it's own incoming pipe).

Am at my wits end speaking to them!!!

Thanks
Laura

Cardew

I can only suggest you contact The Consumer Council for Water.

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

They represent water customers and are normally very good.

laura_d

Thank you - I'll get in touch with them.

mart.vader

laura_d wrote: »

Hi Cardew,

The water meter is set approx 5 meters away from my property. The pipes feed from there, into a bin store (where the stopcocks are) and then into the properties. Thames Water are responsible for a short section of the pipe but the customer is responsible for the rest.

Hyde are advising that as I am the sole customer of the pipe, they are not responsible for it (each property has it's own incoming pipe).

Am at my wits end speaking to them!!!

Thanks
Laura

Here is a link for you.: http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/9754.htm

and another one: :http://www.thameswater.co.uk/tw/common/downloads/literature-customer-guarantee-scheme/when-your-water-supply-has-a-leak-code-of-practice-for-domestic-customers.pdf
See sections 5, 8 & 9.

Ask TW about their subsidised repair service. Can't find the link right now, but when I asked about this last year, IIRC it was £150 for the first and only leak (per owner, per property). Doesn't apply to Landlords of property. Not sure how it would apply to shared ownership.