Surface Water Sewer UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE!!

T_ah

Hello guys :money:
I'm well into the process of buying this particular house (which was made in the 80's). The Thames Water property search uncovered this underneath the house.

1. Does this make the house at greater risk of subsidence? Leaking drains seem to cause this. If the surface water sewer leaks, is the house at risk?

2. How will Thames Water access the pipes if they need to repair it?

3. Could this be a potential health hazard?

If anyone else has general experience related to this, please share your experience.
Please help! :money:

G_M

No idea, but in your position I'd ask Thames Water.

konark

There's a 9 inch drain a few feet from the back of my house that runs parallel to the row. All my neighbours have built extensions over this drain, and it is combined foul/surface, and none has had any problems either getting planning permission or with flooding etc. One or two even have manhole covers in their extensions, these are special ones with a rubber gasket and screws to stop the smell getting out. So it's probably not that uncommon and just has to be accepted.

moneyistooshorttomention

When you say "underneath" the "house" - do you mean the main part of the house - ie including any kitchen/bathroom extension it has (which is what I instantly assumed you meant)?

I've read of people having (special type) manhole covers in a conservatory floor for instance and that doesnt seem to be an undue problem - but never heard of anyone having one underneath the house itself iyswim.

Davesnave

This situation is quite common.

As it is documented, there will probably be a build-over agreement and steps will have been taken to ensure that no undue pressure is put on the drain. There won't necesarily be any inspection chambers within the building.

The water company will have reserved the right to access their sewer, including from within the property. In practice, this hardly ever happens. There is technology that allows drain replacement/lining without exhumation.

I built over a sewer/storm water drain in 1989. It just meant having to construct very large foundations that were more complex than normal.

Fosterdog

The house we are in the process of buying has the same in the utility room, except instead of opting for one of the specially designed manhole covers for indoor use which get tiled to match the surrounding flooring the seller opted to instead build the kitchen and utility room up by six inches and lay a concrete floor on top. This comes with an agreement that if access is ever needed to the pipes the homeowner will bear the cost of putting right the damage of digging up the floor.

We are willing to take the risk that it may never need access but if it does we would probably see about then having one of the manhole covers fitted as part of the repair work so it would never need to happen again, in fact in a year or two when we redo the kitchen flooring we will look into the options of having it done before laying new tiles if it is even possible.

Most of the surrounding streets have extensions built over manholes and the internal covers are a common site in extensions around here.

AdrianC

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

When you say "underneath" the "house" - do you mean the main part of the house - ie including any kitchen/bathroom extension it has (which is what I instantly assumed you meant)?

I've read of people having (special type) manhole covers in a conservatory floor for instance and that doesnt seem to be an undue problem - but never heard of anyone having one underneath the house itself iyswim.

<waves> Our old house had the mains sewer for half of the next street passing right underneath our kitchen and living room, both the original Victorian-built house rather than an extension. The whole area had been developed at the same time. Manhole in the front garden, manhole in the back garden.

And, yes, it blocked. Several times. One phone call to Thames Water, and it was unblocked for free.