Can neighbour legally turn off water indefinitely?

heartbreak_star

Smodlet wrote: »

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

From what I can gather from his messages, yes - unless he's switching off his own water as well, which seems bonkers...

HBS x

heartbreak_star

Smodlet wrote: »

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.

Oooh thank you, I'll have a look about!

HBS x

sal_III

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

On the other hand if your friend had the stopcock under his control and refused to turn it off, despite knowingly causing leak/damage to the neighbor property could make him liable for damages.

So it's a bit irrelevant who controls the stopcock if there is a leak and turning it off is the only way of stopping said leak.

Smodlet

OK. I actually found out the answer to my own issue just from my water company's website (amazed, I am) but engaged in a chat just for this issue.

Water companies have responsibility and, therefore, control of water supplies up to a property's boundary. I guess we all knew that, really, what with all the Homeserve ads which I personally detest. What goes on within a property is not their concern so no help there.

I think the LL first and Shelter a close second might be your friend's first ports of call (pun intended)

phoebe1989seb

Smodlet wrote: »

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.

We had a similar situation here, although we own our property outright.

When we purchased the rural cottage last year after it was repossessed from the previous owners, the neighbouring farmer on whose land the well is that supplied four (iirc) other properties, had had a dispute with a couple of them and had turned off the supply as a result. The other properties had installed boreholes and told the farmer to poke his supply!

We had no running water to drink/flush toilet for several months and survived on a supply of bottled till we also installed a borehole....

It's an inconvenience to use only bottled water, but doable. However, in the case of a rented property with mains supply the person responsible must be held accountable. After all, we bought our house knowing full well we'd most likely have to get our own supply. The person in the OP should have running water as a right.

AdrianC

heartbreak_star wrote: »

This is pretty much it. The neighbour appears to have waited for a tenant to move in that they can harass instead of the landlord *eyeroll*

Or the neighbour has been doing this all along, and it's only now there's an occupier that anybody's having an issue with it...

dotchas

I am sure if my flat was flooding my downstairs neighbour I would happily turn off my own water (or let someone else turn it off) to avoid causing more damage.............to me that is common sense!
As for the water board, we had our water off in our street a few years ago and the water board provided loads of bottled water. Its inconvenient but not the end of the world.
Yes we have a right to water but to destroy someone elses property to achieve that right surely!

iammumtoone

Homeowner here


I had a leak so of course turned my water off. However I did turn it on periodically whilst I was waiting for a plumber. Every couple of days I would run a bath (bathing in bottled water is not great) I then kept the bath water for flushing the toilet and everything else was done with bottled water.


I have no idea if I did any extra damage by turning the water back on for 15 minutes or so every few days but I suspect in the scheme of things it didn't make that much difference.

xylophone

If this goes on any longer, try Environmental Health?

https://www.thetenantsvoice.co.uk/advice_from_us/contacting-the-environmental-health-department/

Your landlord is responsible to provide you with safe home. Your property must have running water, electrical supply, heating and hot water. These basic utilities are indistinguishable from a normal life and their lack creates serious health hazards. You shouldn’t be left without them for more than a day or two at most. Otherwise, or your landlord is breaching the tenancy agreement and can be held liable. Your home needs to be damp and draft free and provide secure shelter.

jonnygee2

I think who turns the water off might be beside the point. A house with no running water for a prolonged period is clearly uninhabitable. The landlord needs to stop charging rent and/or provide alternative accommodation until there is running water in the flat he is collecting rent on. Your friend needs to find alternative accommodation until it's fixed or make do in situ (but with a reasonable rent reduction).

Then the landlord needs to take responsibility for ensuring a continual supply of water to the house. Whether that's resolving a neighbour dispute, fixing plumbing or something else is really his issue to be dealing with.