What to do about builders next door

jimmy_cricket

Greetings,

Looking for some advice over a couple of issues caused by builders working next door.

First issue is that both next door and us share sewer, with us running into theirs. There is an extension being built with a manhole slap bang in the middle. This is being taken out and the sewer redone in someway. At the moment the manhole has been taken out and the pipe running to it broken open. There is raw sewage running through this and it has been like this for about five days. Two questions. First, should it be left like this? Second, will anybody in authority have to approve this work? How can I check?

Second, I found the builders clambering over my extension roof and the have broken a tile. Is my recourse against them of my neighbour (who am on reasonable terms with)?

spacey2012

The broken tile needs fixing now, we are tipped for very heavy rain in the next 72 hours

GwylimT

You would need to go through the builder as they would need to go through their insurance, but don't worry, unless your roof already has problems losing one wont lead to a leak, nor will one being damaged, you may get very very slow seepage, but by the time the tile is replaced everything will still be fine.

jimmy_cricket

OK, thaks, that's what I thought, but they seem real cowboys. Our roof was done quite recently by a good, established local firm, would I be within my rights to have them do it? If so, who would I present the bill to?

jimmy_cricket

GwylimT wrote: »

You would need to go through the builder as they would need to go through their insurance, but don't worry, unless your roof already has problems losing one wont lead to a leak, nor will one being damaged, you may get very very slow seepage, but by the time the tile is replaced everything will still be fine.

Thanks, feel reassured by this. What about the drain, I was more worried about this to be honest.

spacey2012

You have a duty of care to mitigate any loss, the tile repair is an emergency and I would pay and get a receipt and give a copy to the builders Monday morning.
If the rains do arrive, the damage could be horrendous if it is not fixed, the water gets on the under sheet, it burst and the lot pours in.
They lost any right to fix it themselves when they ignored the tile they must have known they had broke.
Call the roofers and ask if they have anyone who can fix it as an emergency.

SAHD_Jim

jimmy_cricket wrote: »

Thanks, feel reassured by this. What about the drain, I was more worried about this to be honest.

AFAIK, LA Building Control should be made aware of any repairs etc to drains

jimmy_cricket

spacey2012 wrote: »

You have a duty of care to mitigate any loss, the tile repair is an emergency and I would pay and get a receipt and give a copy to the builders Monday morning.
If the rains do arrive, the damage could be horrendous if it is not fixed, the water gets on the under sheet, it burst and the lot pours in.
They lost any right to fix it themselves when they ignored the tile they must have known they had broke.
Call the roofers and ask if they have anyone who can fix it as an emergency.

Thanks, I managed to catch them on the roof and took pics, so they can't deny.

spacey2012

PS you need to call the environmental health about the open sewer pipe, rats will use it as a transport system.

jimmy_cricket

SAHD_Jim wrote: »

AFAIK, LA Building Control should be made aware of any repairs etc to drains

How would I know whether building control has been granted?

Doozergirl

Someone has already said to call environmental health about the sewer pipe. I would also call building control as there will be an infinitely better way of doing the work, if indee they are even using building control :eek: And please call your water board. If it's public then they need a build over agreement before starting work. Building control may be able to confirm this with you.

They have to be cowboys, nobody in their right mind would leave an open sewer. They wouldn't climb on a neighbours roof without permission either, but we're beyond that!