Abandoned sewer - off putting buyers?

puddingisagoldfish

Hello
I posted about this issue once before and got helpful replies, but I have worries.
I have had an offer accepted on a house.
The house was built about 30 years ago (the building company is no longer in business)
The owner knew nothing of a sewer underneath until a previous buyer pulled out when a sewer was shown on the searches.
Thames Water, when digitising their records, found a sewer on their records. Apparently I think this lists the 'joints' of the sewer but shows no activity. They are going to now change the record to read that the sewer is 'assumed abandoned'.
According to the owner there doesn't appear to be anything to see - no sign of a sewer.
My main concern is trying to sell the property again in a few years time. My dad has just worried me by saying that if he had the choice of a house with 'an assumed abandoned sewer' and one with nothing - he would definitely buy the one with nothing. Which is fair comment and this is such a lot of money I don't want to buy a problem.
I have asked my solicitor and he thinks I should go with my gut instinct - but I have been trying to find a place so long I don't really know what my instinct is anymore.
Can anyone here help me - is it something to be avoided?
My understanding is that if its abandoned (or assumed to be) then Thames Water wont repair it (if its even there).
Would this coming up on a search put people off buying?
Thank you

ihatemyhouse

am sure the sewers belong to the water company, and you can request a survey to see if its still in use, shouldn't be too hard for them

how far down is it, how big is it

puddingisagoldfish

Thats the problem- no one really knows if its there. It doesn't appear on any plans and then it was on one marked as abandoned and then Thames Water have it showing on their records. There is supposed to be a man hole cover in the corner of the garden, but the owner dug to try and find it and couldn't.
Thames Water wouldn't say much to me as I am not the owner, but I don't think they have any obligation to maintain it if it is still there (often they are removed or filled with concrete when abandoned)
As there doesn't seem to be any movement there might not be a physical problem - I'm more concerned with it someone would be frightened off buying it when it comes up as 'assumed abandoned' in a search.

Doozergirl

So there is no evidence of it at all?

You can commission a CCTV survey of the drains around the property, ask for the vendor to pay for it, and establish exactly what is under there. The company will draw you a proper plan as well to show what they can see.

A conversation with Thames Water directly will also help, I should think, if they can have a look in their records. See if you can get them to put what they know in writing - even an email.

The other thing is to go door knocking. Ask the surrounding houses (even the street behind) if they have manholes and if they know which direction they go in.

If you arm yourself with facts, then if there are any questions when you come to sell, you can pass the information on.

As far as I am aware, if there is a sewer that is shared by houses, then the water company now have responsibility for them all. I can't see how they could refuse to repair such a thing. Before 2011 when the rules changed, I can see how they would refute responsibility for something they knew nothing about, but I can't see how that would stand these days.

puddingisagoldfish

Sorry - I think I am so stressed I'm not being very clear.
The whole sewer I think was abandoned, redirected, when they built a further development - so there is no use of it at all - hence them not maintaining it

ihatemyhouse

if your drains are over a certain age, then they are the responsibility of the water company any way, I had this in a old house I use to own

Doozergirl

I can't really se what the issue is then. If there is a problem in the future with this abandoned sewer, your home insurance will cover it. In reality we're talking about a 10 inch pipe that has no water running through it, so liklihood of a problem is little to none, and the whole thing is of little concern to anyone.