Can neighbour legally turn off water indefinitely?

Carrot007

I think you will find if the water company have a leak they too can stop it.


Blame whoever bodged converting the place into flats. Should have it's own supply. But no, done on the cheap, what else is bodged?

davidmcn

heartbreak_star wrote: »

does anyone know whether LEGALLY a neighbour/other person can cut a person's water supply on a whim?

Not a "whim", but where there's actually a leak causing damage then of course they can turn the water off.

Smodlet

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I honestly don't know why it wasn't fixed in the month that the flat was empty *sigh*

Also - for future reference - does anyone know whether LEGALLY a neighbour/other person can cut a person's water supply on a whim? As the water company can't, it seems crazy that a person with a stopcock can...

HBS x

I think you have answered your own question there, heartbreak_star. If the water company cannot legally deprive someone of water... As I understand it, water is regarded as a basic human right in this country and therefore cannot be turned off even by the supplier, even when it has not been paid for.

I have another query for my water company anyway so I will ask this question when I contact them and see if they know the answer.

heartbreak_star

Smodlet wrote: »

I think you have answered your own question there, heartbreak_star. If the water company cannot legally deprive someone of water... As I understand it, water is regarded as a basic human right in this country and therefore cannot be turned off even by the supplier, even when it has not been paid for.

I have another query for my water company anyway so I will ask this question when I contact them and see if they know the answer.

Thanks Smodlet. I kinda get the feeling that even when all this is fixed the neighbour will use this as some sort of leverage. ("It's still leaking!! You said it was FIXED!!")

Landlord's also asked supplier for separation of supply

HBS x

need_an_answer

I believe that it differs from water company to water company,but where I live if you are without a water supply for 24 hours or more due to them interrupting the supply then there is I believe an inconvenience payment made...I seem to recall this was £25 for every 24 hour period and paid automatically by cheque by the water company involved.

I admit its not the same when a neighbour interrupts the water supply but if the water company acknowledge the need for water then the neighbour should also.


Both the neighbour and the tenant are being inconvenienced by the actions of a LL whom presumably had plenty of time to sort this out but chose not to.

In this situation then the LL needs to take ownership of both problems,that with the tenant and that of the neighbour

heartbreak_star

need_an_answer wrote: »

Both the neighbour and the tenant are being inconvenienced by the actions of a LL whom presumably had plenty of time to sort this out but chose not to.

Pretty much.

HBS x

need_an_answer

When the neighbour switches off the water supply to the tenant does he still have water?

Exodi

As an (il)logical exercise, I always consider scenarios at their absolute extremes to draw some conclusions.

If, for example, having the water supply on would cause electrical issues/fires/people drowning/the house to collapse, then obviously it's unreasonable to demand it is kept on. It's therefore fairly reasonable that the water supply is temporarily severed to prevent damage or in other words, it's not reasonable to suggest it's not acceptable to ever disconnect a water supply.

In a more practical sense; if these forums have taught me anything, it's that the law and the real world are two different things. Whilst something may be illegal, actually pursuing the matter through a court is an entirely different kettle of fish. If someone walked across my driveway for example; I could inform them that I'll see them in court for trespass, or I could accept that life isn't fair and whilst I've been inconvenienced it will shortly be a distant memory as is the case here.

heartbreak_star

need_an_answer wrote: »

When the neighbour switches off the water supply to the tenant does he still have water?

Yes he does, apparently...

HBS x

Smodlet

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Yes he does, apparently...

HBS x

He who? The neighbour? Are the stop valves to both flats in the neighbour's property?

I've just remembered Murphybear posting about just such an issue around December time, I think. It was her LL cutting off her water supply but, other than that, the scenario was the same except he was just doing it to be a pr1ck. He was not allowed to but that did not stop him. They were on a farm and it was an independent water supply from a spring, or something.

If you can be bothered, you could search for that thread.