Building over a Sewer

SavedGuy1000

Hi Folks,

I am in the final stages of buying a Property. It was formerly a Northern Ireland Housing Executive House which had refurbishments made in 1991.

I have been to the Solicitor today and they inform me that there is a Public Sewer running under this extension. He also said that he cannot find documentation regarding a 'Build Over Agreement'.

Further to this he cannot even find information about the Housing Executive extension to the kitchen because it is over 10 years old.

Should this be cause for concern? The pipe would be around 6 meters.

Can I ask someone who is Liable if there is a problem. The property is not built over a man-hole. Just the pipe where the manhole is in a neighbors garden.

I don't really want to walk away from this house - But I just want to now what I should do here. Surely the Govt would have got the correct planning regulations when they were building their homes.

Or perhaps maybe when they were built they did not need build over agreements which again is another possibility but again who is liable for this.

Slinky

We have a build-over agreement for our extension. We're not actually over the sewer, just up to the edge of it at a 45 degree angle on the corner of our building. In theory if needed, we've agreed the water company would be able to knock down part of our extension if they could find no other way of repairing the sewer. We don't have a problem with this as there's enough room outside for them to be able to do any work required without knocking the corner of the building down, but if you're right over the top of the sewer it could be a completely different matter if they need to get in and repair or replace something.

SavedGuy1000

I have looked at the planning office website and I find there is an application made in 1988 about refurbishment of housing executive stock. which was what these extensions were.

Could it be possible that a general build over agreement for all houses was given as there are several Housing Executive homes that have their extended kitchens over the sewer.

I know if I need to knock it down It will be a pain but the question is who is really liable. Is it the government for breaking its own rules. Surely they would have saught permission.

The pipe runs directly under the kitchen (Extension) so if I had to the house could have the extension knocked down but I would be heavily !!!!ed.

I would go as far as to throwing !!!! into the trains to create more problems for the water board for the !!!! they put me through.

moromir

SavedGuy1000 wrote:

I would go as far as to throwing !!!! into the trains to create more problems for the water board for the !!!! they put me through.

You do realise tampering with public water and sewerage is an imprisonable offence?

I think you need to take a deep breath and/or grow up.

Its not the waterboards fault if someone built over the drain without their consent.

SavedGuy1000

In Northern Ireland the Water Board and the Housing Executive are all government agencies so therefore I do not believe I should be responsible for governmental problems.

jimmy_cricket

moromir wrote: »

You do realise tampering with public water and sewerage is an imprisonable offence?

I think you need to take a deep breath and/or grow up.

Its not the waterboards fault if someone built over the drain without their consent.

It might be if the water company care. My neighbour is having an extension. The builders broke open the sewer pipe and manhole and left it like that for over a week. Contacted water company whose response was 'there is no agreement in place but if you like we will write to the householder on you behalf gently reminding them that the should have got permission". My downstairs loo is now beginning to back up slightly. Coincidence?

martindow

SavedGuy1000 wrote: »

The pipe would be around 6 meters.

Diameter? Below the ground?