Water Mains - Flats with Leasehold - Responsible for fixing?

Lokolo

Hi,

I had a plumber come out who fitted a new bathroom. However when he turned the water off outside he couldn't because the thing (stopcock) had rusted away.

Arranged for water provider (Thames Water) to come out but they have now stated that it's not theirs so they won't fix it.

There is no service management company for the flats. But I am unsure whether the mains bit is part of my property, but as its also a communal one I think the freeholder might own it. The freeholder has no contact number only an address so it will take a while for me to hear anything from them. So I am currently unsure who is meant to fix this thing!

Is anyone able to advise?

kBHX

I assume the plumber was turning off the water supply to a single flat? In which case it is the responsibility for the flat owner to replace the stopcock in question.

In my flat they're located in individual storage cupboards in the hallway. Although not directly inside the flat they are still considered part of the property.

G_M

The stopcock in the street which supplies the building is the responsibility of the water supplier (Thames).

Anything beyond that is not their responsibility.

It will (probobly) fall to the freeholder (perhaps delegated to a management company), up to the supply to each individual flat, which should have their own seperate stopcocks.

Anything beyound this (internal) stopcock is (probobly) the responsibility of the lease (flat)holder.

The 'probobly's are because you need to read the lease!

Write formally to the freeholder.

Also do searches online to try and find a phone number, but even if you find one, and phone, still WRITE as well.

Lokolo

Thank you both.

I have an internal stopcock which does fall to me. However this one is is for 3 of the flats, me and the 2 above me (in a block of 9). So every 3 flats also has another one outside the bottom one.

It will (probobly) fall to the freeholder (perhaps delegated to a management company), up to the supply to each individual flat, which should have their own seperate stopcocks.

This is what I originally believed after I had phoned Thames Water. I will write them a letter.

G_M wrote: »

Also do searches online to try and find a phone number, but even if you find one, and phone, still WRITE as well.

Which part do I want from Land Registry? I assume Freeholder and Title Register?

Land_Registry

You can check online for the freehold register which would contain the name of the freeholder and what we refer to as an address for service. They can provide up to 3 addresses (inc an email one) and it/these are provided by the freeholder as address(es) to which they want Land Registry to contact them should the need arise from a registration perspective.

If the information is not available online you can complete a paper application by post.

G_M

But if you already have an address for the freeholder, you can use lots of search techniques. I'm no expert but obviously BT directory, and then

* google the address? (with/without name)
* http://www.whitepages.co.uk/uk-address-finder/uk-address-finder.html
* google the name (if it's a company)
* http://www.192.com/

etc