Drain Problem

wanderlust27

I need advice on a collapsed drain in a neighbours back garden. This is backing up to other properties and causing rats.
The house concerned had building work done some time ago and ever since then the drains have backed up. Every six months or so they have had to be rodded.
Now the drain has completely collapsed. These drains go into a private septic tank and so are not covered by united utilities.
The neighbours have been told that each should contribute. I dont want to make an insurance claim as I have excess to pay and then my premium will go up.
The neighbours believe the damage is caused by the building work and that the neighbour concerned should pay. The survey says drain collapse caused by ground movement.
The neighbour with the collapsed drain is doing nothing about it and I need advice.

anselld

It will be impossible to link the collapse directly to building work so sharing the cost will be the way to get it done.

Surely it is not going to be stupidly expensive to dig down and replace a section especially when the cost is shared.

Davesnave

I'd agree with the post above that the best way forward is for no blaming or bickering and a sharing of the cost to replace the damaged section.

If you're not very careful, frequent rodding and jetting will result in material escaping from the tank into the outflow to the leach field, potentially blocking it. Then you really will have a large expense in replacing it, especially if the new installation must meet much more stringent regulations introduced in the past decade.

EachPenny

Davesnave wrote: »

I'd agree with the post above that the best way forward is for no blaming or bickering and a sharing of the cost to replace the damaged section.

I also agree with this.

If the neighbour where the collapse is will not cooperate even if the rest are willing to agree to pay shares of the cost then the next step would be to contact Environmental Health of your local council. They powers to serve notice on someone to repair their drains, and if they refuse to do so can carry the work out themselves in default. It would be best to avoid that happening if possible as it will increase the costs you all pay, but is there as an option of last resort.