I need to do plumbing work in my leasehold flat- freeholder v. unhelpful

Soundgirlrocks

I would just knock on the neighbours doors let them know that the water will be off for 30min and then get on with what needs to be done. Simple. I can't see why on earth you want to make this more complex than it needs to be. The council aren't going to do anything, the pipes you are removing are in your flat, the water will be back on before it cause anyone any real inconvenience.

davidmcn

Mokka wrote: »

our freeholder is resistant to logic and unhelpful on purpose

Then ignore them, just sort it out with the neighbours.

Mokka

AdrianC wrote: »

If this is a pipe IN your flat, relevant ONLY to your flat, then your flat's stopcock will turn the water to it off. If you have a stopcock, rather than simply some internal stop valves...

I do agree that I should have the means to turn off water supply to my flat completely. The situation is that I don't. If I am allowed to remove this pipe I will not have the need for additional stopcocks. The stopcocks I already have (or mains shut off valves by another name) will be sufficient.

The reason we have to have to stopcocks is that there are 2 mains water pipes, so having one stopcock for 2 separate pipes would be an impossibility.

Is there any law that says the freeholder has to provide me with a stopcock?
As far as I understand, even if there is such law or regulation, since the building is from 1966 there would be no obligation on the landlord to comply with any regulation introduced after 1966?

Giddypip

AdrianC wrote: »

A stopcock is ONE SINGLE VALVE that cuts the entire water supply off to your entire property.

You do not have one.

You have stopvalves which cut part of the water supply off within your internal plumbing.

I have TWO stop cocks in my house and yes they are stop cocks. I found this out when I asked united utilities to install a water meter and they could not due to the set up.

phill99

AdrianC wrote: »

There is no stopcock for your flat? Really...? I find that VERY surprising.

But, no, you cannot force the freeholder - nor can you forcibly turn every flat's water off yourself. This is work that you're choosing to do.

We refurbished a privately owned flat in a council block this year which had no stop !!!!. When we got the council maintenance crew to eventually attend, they confirmed that non of the flats had stop cocks. Bare in mind when these flats were built, they were never intended for private, individual ownership, as it was always foreseen that the state would look after the flats.


OP, for information we ended up freeing the main incoming pipe (hire a decent quality freezing machine, not a spray can freezing solution). It froze in about 15 mins, and then we just cut a new main stop !!!! in.


Get different plumbers in!!

Mokka

phill99 wrote: »

We refurbished a privately owned flat in a council block this year which had no stop!!!


OP, for information we ended up freeing the main incoming pipe (hire a decent quality freezing machine, not a spray can freezing solution). It froze in about 15 mins, and then we just cut a new main stop !!!! in.


Get different plumbers in!!

I guess that's what I need to keep doing. Plumbers who came were not keen on freezing any pipes ( and definitely NOT the mains pipe) and not keen on switching off the water for the block

patman99

I can see why the plumbers are wary of freezing the pipes in this instance.

For a feezing kit to work, the water has to be completely still. As you have no idea if the 3rd pipe passes through your flat and feeds others, there is aways a risk that the water in the pipe will still be flowing and thus the freezing kit will have no effect at all.

You need to trace this mystery pipe to see what it actually feeds to. If it disappears into another flat then I would not even contemplate capping it.
If yo do, then you might find the Council on your doorstep pretty quickly.

G_M

Identify the pipe that brings water into your flat (as distinct from the various internal pipes that have vlves.

Get plumber to freeze pipe. Cut pipe. Install stopcock. Thaw pipe.

You now have a stopcock and can turn off your flat's supply and do whatever work is required.

davidmcn

phill99 wrote: »

We refurbished a privately owned flat in a council block this year which had no stop !!!!. When we got the council maintenance crew to eventually attend, they confirmed that non of the flats had stop cocks.

I'm amused to note that MSE regard a singular !!!! as offensive but multiple cocks are fine.

G_M

Surely it's not the number of cocks that is pertinent, it is the use to which they are put?