Issue with neighbours and plumbing

SarahMartin

Hi everyone, I'm new so if this is in the wrong place please let me know!

I'm looking for some advice on behalf of my Mum. She owns a semi-detached property (Scotland) and we're having some bother with the neighbours and the plumbing, apologies in advance for the long post.

My Mum and late Father bought the house about 25 years ago, and there have been lots of issues with the neighbours tbh. My parents didn't realise that all the waste pipes are connected between the properties, so all their waste comes over my Mum's property (the houses had been owned by the same family who live next door, and built by one of the relatives). The plumbing is poorly done, my Dad did a bit of work but in order to fix it completely they needed the neighbours to agree and they refused. The water pressure is also very poor due to the set-up, around 0.5 bar (half the mains value).

Whenever there is a blockage, it always ends up on my Mums side of the property (that's where the majority of the pipework is) as it get's pushed along. We know for a fact that they put far too much paper down the toilet, and cleaning towels etc that they shouldn't. The last blockage we had a few years ago ended up with our toilet getting broken (because they didn't tell us there was an issue and just kept plunging the toilet with a mop to move the blockage onto our side so that we'd be responsible for fixing it - resulting in water coming up our toilet). They ended up getting a plumber in who was useless and damaged pipework on our property (duct-taped pipes he cut!!!).
A couple of years ago, literally the day of my father's funeral, they put a downstairs toilet in. Obviously we were preoccupied and didn't really know what was going on. My Mum said to them that she was happy for them to dig up the front of the house to connect waste pipes (as my Dad had done years previously) to plumb-in their toilet. We later found out that instead of doing this, they had installed a Saniflo. Ever since, we have had issues with banging pipes and gurgling up sink/bath plug holes which coincide with them flushing the Saniflo (we can hear it). Now both our toilets are blocked, as are theirs but they didn't tell us hoping we would end up with problems and sort it. We tried to be reasonable and have spoken to them about the issues we've been having for 2 years, but they basically said that they didn't care because it's not affecting them (which has been the party line forever - we had water gushing into one of the bedrooms because they removed their down pipe and they refused to reinstate it until my Dad put in a restriction to reduce the flow of water, they then got it sorted straight away because they were "worried their house would flood").

I know people have much worse neighbours, but it's wearing my Mum, and myself, down. They are totally inconsiderate and rude when you speak to them. They hung up on my Mum twice today when she phoned to say the toilets were blocked.
I'm really looking for some advice on what our options are? We don't have the money for lawyers and they know that. Things have been worse since my Dad died, as they take advantage of my Mum and can be quite aggressive sounding at times.
Should they have put the Saniflo in without my Mum's permission since the plumbing is all joined? And since the water pressure is so low?

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

z1a

Maybe not the right way to go about things, but given their attitude I would block their waste pipe at the inspection chamber!

SarahMartin

z1a wrote: »

Maybe not the right way to go about things, but given their attitude I would block their waste pipe at the inspection chamber!

No probably not! We don't have an inspection chamber to see anything - I'm at my wits end!

HHarry

Well as a start any drains that service multiple properties are the responsibility of your local sewage company - so if there's a blockage call them up and get them to clear it.

If you're in a semi than a Saniflo may be noisey, depending on where it's sited, but it shouldn't be causing any gurgling in your plug holes - they should be completely different systems.

Homersimpson

If the saniflow is causing your sinks to gurgle it sounds like the drainage system doesn't have an open vent.

Basically at the end of the drain there should be a vent which goes to atmosphere so that as the waste goes down the pipe it doesn't cause a vacuum which could suck the water out of the traps in the sinks, toilets or baths.

Its not uncommon for older houses to not have these.

The saniflow is a pump so as it pumps the waste into the drain it may create pressure (especially if there is already a partial blockage) which might be what you can hear.

In some instances people use an air admittance valve or AAV (sometimes called a Durgo) in stead of an open vent, this device allows air to be pulled into the drain but does not let smells out. This only opens when there is a negative pressure in the pipe so won't help if the saniflow is pressurising it slightly as it will remain closed.

As mentioned above if the drain serves more than one house its the water authority's problem so give them a call, only thing is they will probably only come and clear it not fix the actual problem although from your post above its not clear what the issue is (i.e. is it just what the neighbours put down the drain or is there something wrong with it like its partially collapsed somewhere or is not laid to the correct falls. If the water board attend see if they can put a camera down it to see if there is anything wrong (mention that you have had lots of blockages with it).

moneyistooshorttomention

I can vouch for the fact the Water Board will put a camera down a communal drain if they think there is a problem - and being a communal drain then the cost of that doesn't fall to an individual household that is nothing to do with this (but just on the receiving end of someone else's ignorant/selfish actions).

Fire_Fox

It is not your job to negotiate, bargain, beg or plead. Communicate with your neighbours in writing so you have a paper trail. Keep a copy and get a proof of posting at the Post Office.

You need to know which plumbing is yours to maintain or replace, which is theirs to maintain or replace, which is the water boards responsibility. Information, even agreements the owners of the adjoining property, should have been in the title deeds and plans. Check that carefully.

However the ad hoc stuff since may have muddied the waters. Get advice from plumber and/ or the water board on how much of the domestic pipework on your land is your legal responsibility.

Regardless of their infantile behaviour, your plumbing is a mess. It should not be possible for them to cause problems inside your house, only outside. Get a quote for fixing your mess then book the plumber well in advance. Monday is a good day.

It is not your job to negotiate, bargain, beg or plead. It IS your legal responsibility to keep your neighbour informed, and give them reasonable opportunity to make their own arrangements. Again write, keep a copy, proof of posting.

If your plumber upgrades or repairs all your plumbing and the water board upgrades or repairs theirs you are in a much healthier position. What is the worst that can happen now? I am guessing their sewer pipe can flood both gardens?

If it does flood, contact Environmental Health at the local council about the urgent hazard. They work Tuesday to Friday. You have written evidence of your efforts to keep your neighbours informed of the problems, evidence from professionals that the work was essential, written evidence your neighbour had the chance to get their own plumber OR to work with your plumber.

By the way be clear with your plumber that you will be paying for the work on your property that you have discussed and authorised. Not half a job shared with next door. Divorce those pipes!

comeandgo

I would contact Scottish Water and ask for their help and advise.

SarahMartin

Thank you all so much for all your advice, I can't figure out how to do the 'thanks' function on the site but I really appreciate the help. It's very frustrating and upsetting, and the worst time for it to happen over the Christmas break when it's hard to get a hold of anyone.

Norman_Castle

I can't figure out how to do the 'thanks' function on the site

Click the thanks button on any post you want to thank.

SarahMartin

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Click the thanks button on any post you want to thank.

Thanks Norman! I wasn't logged in, that's why I couldn't get it to work - it's been a long day!