Inspection chambers

Blondie21_2

I'm hoping someone will be able to advise me on this please. I live in a one storey block of flats over a Chinese Restaurant and an Indian Take-away. I have a badly blocked drain downstairs. I have looked all the way down my alley way and have noticed that all the premises have an inspection chamber (two in some places) When I tried to see where mine was it seem likely it is now underneath a set of concrete steps and a shed that the Chinese people have built there. It is fairly logical to assume that there would be an inspection chamber(s) here as everyone has them. I have had a Plumber spend 5 hours with a high pressure jet trying to unblock it and who is now saying that he hit something really solid and my drains need to be dug up. I really need to know how I can find out if there is indeed an inspection chamber here as the Plumber tells me it would make life a LOT easier. I have called the Environmental people as well. In the opinion and experience of others here, do you think it logical that there would be a chamber situated by my drain. Because I cant see why whoever built this building would decide to just leave me out?

harryhound

I had to check out the route of a private sewer on a house I was interested in buying.

The sewer had been there for 20 years but the local planning authority had the plans (W.Dorset)

The sewage people will have plans of the public sewers.

Problem with both of these offices is that they may be archived away on microfilm or electronic medium and there would be a charge and a delay getting hold of them.

Do you own or are you renting, because your deeds probably have a set of plans.

Harry.

Blondie21_2

Hi Harry and thank you for your reply. I own my flat (Leaseholder). Where would I get the Deeds from (sorry if that a silly question..?) I've never had to enquire before.

harryhound

Hi Blondie,

I'm old enough and ugly enough to have my deeds in my own safe; BUT I would bet your property is registered and you have a mortgage ?

Your "title" complete with a plan should be with the land registry.
The basic summary with a written description of what it is, who owns it and how much you paid, & who else has rights over it; together with a plan is stored at the land registry and available on-line for 3GBP for each of the two documents.
If you call in in person at one of the network of offices and ask for the public desk, one of the officers should be prepared to talk to you about your own property for free. (I called in recently, because I am wary of the people who have moved in next door, and managed to check that legally next door is still owned by "Mr Jones", not (yet?) by the new folks - some sort of fiddle is going on I think perhaps just Stamp Duty). You can find a thread on here where Land Registry is discussed. [ Try pasting something like
"Land Registry" site:forums.moneysavingexpert.com into google, as it has a more flexible search than moneysavingexpert's own.]

Having said all that, the description & plan may define the position and drainage rights but probably won't, there will just be some legal woffle that will leave you no better off for working out where it is and where it goes.

Your mortgage provider will have a big bundle of documents (mostly obsolete?), containing things like your permission to replace your windows in a conservation area, HOWEVER it is likely to charge you a fee and insist the documents are release only to a solicitor (they might agree to copy them) So phone up and check what is involved, it could work out expensive. It might NOT answer your question. [No wonder the professionals hate the concept of the HIP when mostly all this stuff has not been digitised].

The other choice is to buy a set of drain rods, chat up your neighbours (you are going to have to do that anyway) and start pulling up manhole covers (you have got the old fashioned rectangular, get inside, type manholes, not just "rodding eyes" ?) With the manholes each side open (SAFETY HAZARD!) get your helpful neighbours to flush their toilets and run water out of their sinks and baths. You will now be able to draw a plan of, which way the water goes, what is happening and spot a buildings outlet that is still in use but not draining water. That outlet might be yours! To might be able to get to the other side of the blockage. Start with the drain rod with the rubber washer and see if it will jolt the blockage & get the drain into action, if not screw the fitment, that looks like a thick bed spring, onto the rod (BEWARE OF UNSCREWING THE RODS INSIDE THE PIPE) and try to screw into the blockage.
[ I spent a "fun" Sunday afternoon doing just this at the back of a block of flats for a friend - It was a nightmare of pipes that seemed to drain up hill and branches that had been blocked off during redevelopment 40 years ago, but eventually I hooked out a bucket full of sanitary towels (they don't disolve):rolleyes: ]

I have never been able to understand why people can take on a new home without understanding how the systems work and what to do if they go wrong - fore warned is fore armed.

Have fun, let us know how you get on and what it costs.

Harry

PS If it comes to having a set-to with your Chinese neighbours; legal advice is available on the sites "gardenlaw" & "swarb" (try advanced google and ask for an IRL search to find these sites), but avoid the legal route if you possibly can - only lawyers get rich over domestic disputes - it is time to build up brownie points ?


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