Water leak

manlovestreet

Water leak

I just purchased a property 1 month prior and it was all carpeted. 4 houses (mid terraced) share the main water pipe from the road. The ground floor in my property is all concrete apart from the first reception room which has floor boards with 0.5 meter space underneath. Upon lifting the floor boards to connect an earth wire from the gas meter to the fuse box there was water underneath.
I hired a pump and all the water (which was clear) was pumped out. The next morning the water had returned. I called Severn Trent and they dug where the connection from where the main water pipe enters the property boundary and there was no leak present. They have done some checks with the other 3 houses and confirmed it is the house next door where the water leak. Next door there is all concrete on the ground floor.

The house next door has tenants in. Severn Trent informed the tenant before Christmas they would come in the new year, dig the reception room and replace the pipe and put it back how it was. The tenants being awkward refused to let them enter. I have spoken to Severn Trent and they are in touch with the estate agents to speak to the landlord to either let them do the work and they would bill the landlord or for the landlord to do the work himself.

I have reiterated the urgency to Severn Trent as my front reception room is not only not in use but damp becoming present as the water has been sitting there for nearly 2 months now. Severn Trent have stated they will give the estate agents/landlord 1 week and if no work is done, they will have to go to court to obtain right to enter. This seems like a lengthy process. Can the council/environmental health do anything?

I have find out who the estate agent is and also told them of the urgency. How can I find out the landlords details, so I can wither have a word with them and/or take them to a small claims court for the cost of hiring the water pump, costs of ruined carpets and replaster 1 meter in the reception room?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

G_M

For the landlords details:


* ask the tenants
* pay £3 to the Land registry
* look at archived Rightmove website for tenancy marketing of the property
* if you get the LL's name but not addres (eg LR) send a letter to him at the property - he should have postal forwarding in place- but note he might not and the tenant'smight open the letter


Environmental Health might assist with an enforcement notice on the occupants I believe.

m0bov

You can go on land registry and get the owners details, then pass them to your insurance/legal dept for them to deal with it.

manlovestreet

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I understand it will cost approximately £3 which is fine. But would this just not show the landlords name and the property address (next door to me) rather than his own address?

manlovestreet

Thank you for your reply.

The tenants have given me the estate agents details. I have been in touch with the estate agents and they have 'forwarded my concerns' to the landlord. They said they cannot give me the landlords details stating GDPR.

I will also have a word with the council to assist.

manlovestreet

To refit the front room, is the best route home insurance (£100 excess) or pay myself and take the landlord from next door to a small claims court?

G_M

manlovestreet wrote: »

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I understand it will cost approximately £3 which is fine. But would this just not show the landlords name and the property address (next door to me) rather than his own address?

The Land Registry Title willshow the landlord's contact address as well as the property address.

In many cases, LL's don't bother (or forget) to update the LR, so yes, the address is the same.

But sensible eficient LLs change the contact address with the LR so that if the LR need to contact them (or anyone else!) post goes to their actual address.

G_M

manlovestreet wrote: »

Thank you for your reply.

The tenants have given me the estate agents details. I have been in touch with the estate agents and they have 'forwarded my concerns' to the landlord. They said they cannot give me the landlords details stating GDPR.

I will also have a word with the council to assist.

I'd still also write to the LL - best to get a formal notification to him.

* get his name from LR
* write direct if his address is shown
* write c/o next door if address not shown
* send copy to him c/o the agents

To refit the front room, is the best route home insurance (£100 excess) or pay myself and take the landlord from next door to a small claims court?

Pros and cons

Easiest to claim and let the insurer chase the owner nest door- they might or might notbother. Depends how much.

But your premiums will probably go up even if they claim the cost back from next door........

manlovestreet

Thank you.

I will write a letter (recorded delivery) addressed to next door, the landlord if a different address appears on land register title, and the estate agents.

manlovestreet

G_M wrote: »

I'd still also write to the LL - best to get a formal notification to him.

* get his name from LR
* write direct if his address is shown
* write c/o next door if address not shown
* send copy to him c/o the agents

Pros and cons

Easiest to claim and let the insurer chase the owner nest door- they might or might notbother. Depends how much.

But your premiums will probably go up even if they claim the cost back from next door........

Hence the reason I might do the work myself and take the landlord to a small claims court.

martindow

manlovestreet wrote: »

Hence the reason I might do the work myself and take the landlord to a small claims court.

But you don't have any right to burrow under someone else's house. How can you stop the leak that the water company say is from a neighbour?