Driveway Manhole Covers

NewBuild_2

Hi there

Not sure if this is the right place. We purchased our home in May 2015. We were aware of the 6 manhole covers on our driveway, presumably shared with us by the neighbour. However, a couple of them are precisely placed just where the wheels of my car rolls over them. This leads to cracking, especially if there's a stone or something laying on them, and the pressure from the wheel means it cracks. Persimmon Homes replaced one of the covers during warranty, however as I am out of warranty now, they will not replace it. I don't see why we should have to fork out, when they have been placed in a stupid position.

NHBC don't cover this under their build mark guarantee
The builder, Persimmon Homes will not assist as it's out of Warranty
Severn Trent have advised it's not one of theirs, so they can't assist.

I have contacted Citizens Advice, as I think due to the positioning of them, they're going to need replacing frequently. Ideally they need to be re-positioned. Such a PITA.

If anyone has any ideas, that would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

danlewi2

Welcome to the joys of owning a home it sounds like to me.

ToasterScheme

Sounds like sub-standard covers being used to me. If they are designed to cope with being driven over, then they should last for a reasonable amount of time.

davidmcn

You agreed to the design and specification of the property when you bought it. I don't see that the developer has an obligation to make it cheaper to maintain.

Carrot007

ToasterScheme wrote: »

Sounds like sub-standard covers being used to me. If they are designed to cope with being driven over, then they should last for a reasonable amount of time.

This! Buy some decent covers and they will not break.

DaftyDuck

I have multiple manholes on my gravel-covered driveway. I drive over them in a car and a tractor. Vans, lorries, and even a twenty tonne tracked digger have driven over, and none are damaged. They are all rated for that kind of traffic.

You need better covers!

NewBuild_2

Thanks for the responses. Yes I know better covers would probably resolve the issue, but not sure why each one of them were installed of such poor quality, considering they are aligned with the cars wheels on a single garage driveway. The point was that shouldn't the builders or whoever installed them be held liable for this?

danlewi2

Nope the builders will put down the cheapest for them so they may of replace them already but most likely still cheaper than paying for the more expensive versions. Have you queried the quality of the bricks they used to build the house?

gettingtheresometime

Actually it may not be the quality of the covers used but the type used as there's different specifications for different location types.


As for putting them where they are that's more likely down to the water authority requiring them to be in places where they haven't got to climb over fences to access them in an emergency for example.


Are the manholes adopted or private?


As for getting them relocated, at no cost to you, I think you have two hopes of that and one of them is Bob.

RockOnZombies

Sounds like they're private. Do you pay management charges, have you got a management company? if its SW does the whole estate run through them? Would suggest you start there.

Also have a look on the planning website should have engineering dwgs you can look at to find out what the covers are actually for.

Mutton_Geoff

NewBuild wrote: »

better covers would probably resolve the issue, but not sure why each one of them were installed of such poor quality

I think you gave the answer in your first post ... Persimmon Homes.


Think about where all the other economies have been made too.