Neighbour Leak Problem

ramborai1987

Im not sure if this is the right board but the admin can move if its wrong

We are currently refurbishing our other residence for rental. We have a builder working there and he has recognised that the house connected next door has a leaking pipe which may be from a radiator. The leaking pipe must be seeping through underneath the wall of his house into our house and causing a puddle in the room.

This is causing damage to our house and the builder has knocked many times next door but they will not open. The next door neighbours cannot speak english so they are not opening because they cannot communicate.

I am planning to write a letter to them but i am not sure how to go about it. Where legally do we stand? Is there any legal acts or regulations that force the next door neighbour/owner/landlord to fix the problem?

We will need to take action somehow because the longer we leave it the more damage it will cause to our house.

I have searched various websites but cannot find a law or regulation on this problem. I need to make the letter sound a bit forceful in order for them to sort the problem if it is their liability. Thanks

olly300

This is causing damage to our house and the builder has knocked many times next door but they will not open. The next door neighbours cannot speak english so they are not opening because they cannot communicate.

To be honest I think the reason they are not opening is because they know there is a problem. I have and had neighbours whose first language isn't English and they are fine except when you want to discuss problems with them.

Get in touch with your local council's envirnomental health department. I suggest you give them a ring this afternoon and take down the details of the person you talk to.

I've just been reading my local council's website and they may be able to legally force the householder to fix the pipes if they refuse to communicate with you and do it. I know they will force householders to fix leaking sewage and main water pipes so I suggest you don't state that you think the pipe is from a radiator. Just describe the situation as sometimes if you give councils too much information they won't come and look at the problem.

Then once you have gathered the information then write a letter to your neighbours giving them a deadline to get back to you. If that doesn't work contact the council.

sooz

Agree with Olly,

tell the Council that the water doesn't look clean, and you are concerned for your/your tenants/your builders health

ramborai1987

thanks guys. big help. i'll tell you how i get on

irnbru_2

olly300 wrote: »

Get in touch with your local council's envirnomental health department.

+1

Contact your building insurer too.

BobProperty

+2 Environmental Health

If it is a sufficient hazard they will issue a notice to get it fixed within x days. If it isn't fixed within x days they fix it for you and land someone with a big bill. If they can't get in they will probably go to court to get access, then go in, fix it and give someone an even bigger bill.

ramborai1987

just an update. I wrote a letter to next door but they didn't contact me after 48 hours. so i rang environmental health and they told me they arent the people to deal with the problem. but i rang environmental health another 2 times till i found someone who knew what i was talking about. the only thing they did was take my details down and the problem.

environmental health seem extremely slow though and my builder wants to finish his work off. im still waiting for them to contact me.

I've got a problem now, should i let the builder finish his work. plaster will probably dry but i guess it'll keep looking damp. im guessing any future costs will have to be paid by next door right?