Manhole in back garden

[Deleted User]

Utility pits is the correct term.

Section62

mattyprice4004 said:

We have 5 manholes on our property (don't care for this PC nonsense...)

Really it is only a manhole if a person can fit inside, otherwise an inspection chamber (or lamphole).

Not so much 'PC' as getting the drainage infrastructure category correct.

aoleks

Martisha said:

My main worry is that it might be public mains/drains within the property boundaries

no need to worry, most terraces have some form of a public drain in the front/rear garden. as long as they're public, you will never incur any costs for blockages or even larger problems that involve digging up the entire street.

OP, that manhole has nothing to do with the duration the house has been on the market for or its price reduction, it's simply not an issue at all. first, it could be private, in which case you can move it around should you want to build an extension, for example. second, if it's public, it's nothing more than an inspection chamber. ignore.

Nearlyold

Martisha said:

My main worry is that it might be public mains/drains within the property boundaries

No need to worry, if there are public mains/drains within your property boundary you are generally only responsible for the length of pipe/drain from your house until it meets the public pipe/drain even if the public pipe/drain is within your boundary.

See Responsibility for pipes and sewers - Ofwat

Woolsery

mattyprice4004 said:

We have 5 manholes on our property (don't care for this PC nonsense...)

As Section 62 says, it's nothing to do with being PC.

This isn't the BBC!

Sootster2021

Hello, we are currently in the process of buying a house.  One of the searches flagged that there is a public sewer right on the boundary between our house and neighbours house.  We went back to the property for a second viewing and confirmed that the sewer is actually in our neighbours garden rather than our own.  However, solicitor advised it was nothing to worry about as long as nothing is build on or within 3m of the manhole cover.  If it's in your own garden you would need a buildover agreement if you wanted to build on / within 3m of it.  That's my understanding so not necessarily something to worry about unless you are hoping to extend  

Slithery

Not a problem at all.

I'd be more concerned if there wasn't any access to clear the drains if an issue arises...

Heres_the_deal

If you're planning an extension later on then it 'may' be an issue. You cannot build within 3 metres of a public sewer.

Slinky

Heres_the_deal said:

If you're planning an extension later on then it 'may' be an issue. You cannot build within 3 metres of a public sewer.

Yes you can with permission from the sewer owner. We built an extension within inches of the main sewer in our street, which ran at a 45 degree angle to the corner of the extension. It was done under the agreement of building control who inspected before it was covered up. In theory if Anglian Water need to access their sewer they could knock the extension about a bit, in practice there's plenty of clearance to allow any repairs required without resorting to that.

aoleks

Heres_the_deal said:

If you're planning an extension later on then it 'may' be an issue. You cannot build within 3 metres of a public sewer.

this is incorrect. you will need a build over agreement, but it's more of a formality unless you have some crazy plans.

it's like saying you can't build anything because you need planning permission.