Neighbour wants to install pipes on my land

J_B

This happened to a house we used to own in N Wales.

We charged £1K (IIRC) and he also paid all the legal costs to add the correct details to the deeds.

Witless

+ 1 for professional advice.

Years back (about 1997 IIRC) we had similar ... but opposite IYSWIM.

Neighbour didn't charge or even suggest payment but requested that, in the event that the area was ever required for building (which, TBH, was extremely unlikely) and it was preventing it we would move the pipe at our expense.

We got our solicitors to draft an agreement which was either free or a very minimal charge* (we were having other stuff done at the same time)

* must have been minimal if there was a charge as I don't remember it.

Davesnave

missile wrote: »

You appear to have misinterpreted my post.
A potential buyer may wish to develop this land and be prevented from building on it. As Soot2006 said, we do not have enough information.

Are we at odds over that? If so, why did my first post say:

"There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the plan, unless it might prevent you, or a future owner, from extending your house, even as, say, a porch. Buildings don't have to go directly over a drain for the permissions to become tricky, particularly with drains shared by more than one property."

My next point was that only the OP knows the exact situation.

As they appear to be an adult of sound mind, they will have to take responsibility for the final decision. In doing that, they should weigh-up the possibilty that the drain might leak and that some potential buyers might not like the idea of a drain going under the path. I've already given my opinion on the likelihood of those things, assuming the drain is built correctly and the legal documentation is sorted to protect the OP's interests. I understand that you don't agree on these points.

Soot2006 reminded us that the OP ought to be getting something out of all this. The OP suggests the path could be upgraded, so none of us seem to be 'misinterpreting' that. They should insist on a better path, easily re-laid if they like, although having stuck a few new drains in myself last year, I didn't allow for digging them up again! :rotfl:

missile

Davesnave wrote: »

Are we at odds over that?

It is you who chose to disagree with teneighty and I. :A

Davesnave wrote: »

.. But saying that this might put someone off buying the house is stretching it, .......

and misquote us

Davesnave wrote: »

.. as is the notion that a properly laid drain is likely to leak any time soon .......

Davesnave

missile wrote: »

It is you who chose to disagree with teneighty and I. :A
and misquote us

I apologise if I misunderstood your and teneighty's posts, as it wasn't my intention to misrepresent your views.

There are some other posts which show that this situation regarding a drainage easement is reasonably common.

-taff

Firemunchkin wrote: »

Should I be concerned? What should I be thinking about?!

Yes.
The potential for things to go wrong and whos responsibility would it be to fix, and whether a current neighbour solution to that would end when the neigbours moved.

Don't do it.

Debbie_Savard

I'd politely decline. There's no upside for you, and many downsides.

baldelectrician

It's up to you.
I would suggest that you do the things above (such as getting title deeds amended).


It may be an idea to ensure that the neighbour agrees to have their title deeds changed to ensure that you still own the land where their pipes are but they are still obliged to maintain them at their expense- if this is written to their title deeds this means any future owner will also be bound by the (altered) deeds.


It may be an idea to add a clause that allows you to connect any new pipes from your property to the pipes they have installed at no cost to them- this may be good if you add something at your side.