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homeserve

816 Posts
in Water bills
hoping somebody can help as im the one of the ones usually answering questions on this water forum.
i have a suspect problem with my drains. i.e i have had a few rats in my back garden. i have had the enviromental health out on two occasions and they wont do anymore until i get my drains checked as they say they are fighting a losing battle although its me thats caught three and they have caught none.
now to the crux of it enviromental health are saying we must have a cracked or displaced drain.
i contacted homeserve and they have said im not covered for a survey i will have to pay for this via a third party. and if its damaged they will repair.
no i have read the small print on the contract and the only thing i can find is a clause saying they will do the survey/work if its detramental to health. now i would concieve rats peeing(weils disease) over my garden detremental to my familys health..and apart from this i think if there is a crack in the drain i believe it where next door has had there extension built in the last 12 months. and as usual neighbours dont want to know...!!!!!
any advice or similar situations would be greatley appreciated.
the only good thing is they come out to play at night so i havent actually seen them.
i have a suspect problem with my drains. i.e i have had a few rats in my back garden. i have had the enviromental health out on two occasions and they wont do anymore until i get my drains checked as they say they are fighting a losing battle although its me thats caught three and they have caught none.
now to the crux of it enviromental health are saying we must have a cracked or displaced drain.
i contacted homeserve and they have said im not covered for a survey i will have to pay for this via a third party. and if its damaged they will repair.
no i have read the small print on the contract and the only thing i can find is a clause saying they will do the survey/work if its detramental to health. now i would concieve rats peeing(weils disease) over my garden detremental to my familys health..and apart from this i think if there is a crack in the drain i believe it where next door has had there extension built in the last 12 months. and as usual neighbours dont want to know...!!!!!
any advice or similar situations would be greatley appreciated.
the only good thing is they come out to play at night so i havent actually seen them.
need to have a lightbulb moment
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I can understand your concern, but why would the environmental heath people suspect a cracked drain to be the reason for rats coming into your garden?
Rats will find their way into a garden by any route if there is something in the garden that attracts them.
You don't say if you've tried contacting your water/sewerage company directly? If not, why not give them a ring? Some companies will come out and survey for free if there's a suspicion that rats are using their sewers as a route...
no water company will come out to survey sewer never mind private sewers
the problem has now been sorted out and it had nothing to with my drains they were living in next doors garage where they were storing sacks of spuds etc......scruffy bast*rds
Water companies are responsible for sewer mains however the council may be responsible, it also depends if it is purely your individual supply (your responsibility)
or if it is communal,
Speak to the water company they may at least look into that part of it.
its worth a try also consult your deeds as the plans should show the sewer line.
if you have homeserve they only cover up to the boundary of your property you are responsible up to the connection to the main sewer line.
Not only will Homeserve not cover drains beyond your boundary line but if your drain is shared - as is the case with the vast majority of private drains in England - Homeserve will only pay your share of the cost. An acquaintance currently has a claim with Homeserve. The drain concerned is shared by three neighbours, all who have Homeserve policies, but he can only claim 1/4 of the cost - and because the problem is on his property his neighbours cannot claim on their policies.
I stopped paying Homeserve premiums when we had problems 3 years ago because they would not deal with issues outside my boundary. The person mentioned above and all of his neighbours will be stopping their premiums.
As an aside, the government and water industry are currently discussing legislation that will make all shared drains the responsibility of the regional water company. I suspect this will take years to enact, but the sooner the better as the current situation causes so many problems.
Check with your house insurance and good luck
I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
(Good Enough Member No.48)