Buying House with public sewer below

Sam64

Hi, just wanting a bit of advice from anybody who has had experience of this. I'm in process of buying a semi-bungalow. My Solicitor said all searches have comeback clear and I can sign whenever now, so went to sign on Monday. He showed me various bits of paperwork, one of them with sewers on. He pointed out where my drains connected with neighbours etc (Con29DW report), and then carried on with something else. I noticed my property also had another green line running diagonally underneath the actual building of bungalow, running from far above on map, running through other gardens, under my bungalow and next doors, before running out into road where it connects with 2 other green lines. My drains do not connect into it at all. I asked him to explain, he didn't seem concerned about it at all but I am!

It is pointed out on the schedule as something purchaser may wish to make further investigations about as it is a public sewer. So I said I wanted to find out a bit more about it before proceeding.

I have managed to find out from company who have done report that it is 150mm pipe running 2.5 meters underground. It was laid the same year as when my bungalow was built 1972, although we don't know what material it is made of pot or plastic.

I can also see that a cul-de-sac of 7 new houses at the rear of my bungalow have been joined into it since it was laid (maybe in last 15 years) including the surface water (blue line on map) from that cul-de-sac aswel as foul.

What are people's opinions on this? Should I be concerned or not? I do worry that with all this extra house building going on, if more properties/developments join this sewer it may/could cause future problems.

I'm not planning on any extension, although considering my bungalow is already built over the top of it, I can't see what problem that would cause if I did.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated. Thanks

Sam64

Anyone able to help?

Bluebonnie

It will be the responsibility of the Water Company. It’s over 7 feet under the bungalow, any leaks unlikely to go upwards.

You should be more concerned with any tree roots near the house.

Sam64

No there's no trees around so don't have to worry about roots etc.

I've found out that the 150mm public sewer pipe is made from vitrified clay.

But I've also found out that my bungalow's drains are 100mm pitch fibre, which are now 47 years old. I've heard bad things about them, blistering etc.

Any more thoughts from anyone?

Mgman1965

Me and my neighbours have a public sewer running directly along the backs of our houses through our gardens.

2 years ago the sewer blocked and foul liquid periodically flooded the next door garden. The water company did a CCTV survey from the unblocked side and found the sewer had collapsed directly under my next door neighbours set back garage.

To get to the pipe they had to demolish the garage and dig what can only be described as a crater in her lovely garden.

When finished, they built her a brand new garage and re-landscaped her garden all without charge.

Wish it had collapsed under my garden 😀.

Funnily enough, the last two years she has had a very green and lush lawn !!!!!!!