Money Moral Dilemma: Is it fair I pay to repair a water pipe that only supplies our neighbours?

ThisIsWeird

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Talk to the water company is probably best. Below shows who is responsible for what. 

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/supply-and-standards/supply-pipes/

Useful diagram, TLiimH.

I'm guessing, from the OP's information, that the situation on the ground is like this (original, and current):

That should certainly be the case if the OP had their new plastic pipe installed correctly, and with the knowledge & approval of the Water Board. In which case, the neighbour is fully liable for what is their own singular supply. What's more, they are likely responsible for any damage caused to the OP's land, certainly if they fail to sort the leak.

The WB shouldn't have any confusion or issues with this - they may even be willing to sort it on the neighbour's behalf. 

The OP should inform their neighbour of the situation in a recordable way, making it politely clear that if they fail to sort it asap, then they will be liable for any subsequent damage to the OP's land. The OP should also contact their insurance co to inform them what's happening - do that asap. It's all about trying to mitigate damage.

If the OP has Legal Protection included - well done if you have, everyone should - then contact them as well, and they will give you full guidance - what to do and say.

However, if the OP installed their own pipe without approval, they deserve everything they get :-)

silvercar

Had a similar issue, where the WB discovered a leak on what used to be a shared pipe, but the neighbour whose land the pipe was on had previously installed their own pipe. The WB fixed the pipe and sent me the bill.

akira181

I had similar in my house, a lead pipe that tee'd off of my mains supply and went up to the neighbours that was inside my flat. That branch sprung a leak and the neighbour said the outside pipe is communal, when it enters my flat, it's my responsibility alone, and when it enters his flat, it's his responsibility.

I had this in an email chain and told him I'd just get it capped if it was my responsibility alone as I didn't want it in my flat in that case. He was/is a difficult and terrible neighbour to say the least and was not for reasoning with so I followed through. After he realised and complained in usual fashion, I gave him a choice to replace the pipe and repair the damage to my flat or he can get a water source from the communal mains as it should have been in the first place. Thankfully he went with the latter, reducing the need for future interactions.

I've worked in water treatment for a number of years now and the following is just my opinion. While lead pipes aren't great and should be changed if convenient, the apparent risks are like a game of Chinese whispers and have been blown way out of proportion as it gets passed down the chain. From the last UK study I saw, less than 7% of water samples from lead water systems were actually in excess of the 10ppb UK limit. 

It's just not all that common for lead to leech into water in high enough quantities for it to be dangerous long term as UK water is typically dosed with phosphates to prevent exactly that. Especially if you follow best practice and run the cold water tap before drinking from it. Taking a shower in the morning or leaving the cold tap running while brushing your teeth (wastes a lot of water, prob best not to do it in that fashion) is more than enough to flush the overnight water (where potential lead concentrations would be the highest) out your house for the day.

ambioni

your neighbours are refusing to even share the cost? for a pipe which supplies their home? at the end of the day you have to live next door to them and try to maintain friendly relations but I think they are being quite unreasonable. it sounds like the responsibility really lies with them but as other commenters have said, talk to the water provider, then maybe go back to the neighbours. If they still won't co-operate then all you can do is protect your property as best you can.

edds1

ask them if they can make any contribution? - do yo get on with them? -get a quote from the  water company to supply them direct and see how it compares to your plumber

i would be tempted to turn of the outside water isolation and see what they do

Boudica61

If you're looking for moral support, of course it isn't fair. However you obviously have to fix the leak because your property is affected, not theirs. So if you are looking for a solution which exempts you from the cost of this repair, you're asking the wrong question. The answer to the question as to who has to pay the bill, lies in firstly establishing legal liability. Contact your water board and your House Insurance provider.

tastyfish

If your neighbour’s assuming it’s your responsibility, by refusing to pay for it, then, according to THEIR logic, you can cap it. They then have the responsibility of finding a way to have water supplied to their property.

In all seriousness, I think the first post (the one with the diagram) summed it up. If the issue is solely with the pipe supplying your neighbour then it looks like it is at least partly their responsibility. The OFWAT guidance suggests ‘responsibility of property owner’ - but doesn’t say which one: the owner of the land with the issue or the owner of the property being supplied! Best to contact the water company.

OctaviaP

Dave_c_v said:

I think the Big issue here is "LEAD Pipe"! Your neighbours are being poisoned every day especially in the morning when the water has stood in the pipe all night dissolving the lead. I do hope there are no children next door as young children will get brain damaged in the same way lead in car fumes damaged children.  By the attitude of your neighbours some brain damage has already occurred to the not so grown ups. 

In general this isn't true. Old lead pipes are usually so coated in scale and filth that the lead doesn't come into contact with the water at all.

Ivansmum

The neighbours are probably suffering from lead poisoning and hence their unreasonable attitude!

Check your house deeds. It will say if there is a shared responsibilty.

As another said, I would repair the leak by capping it off.

If you have to pay for repair, take them to small claims court.

CSI_Yorkshire

Ivansmum said:

The neighbours are probably suffering from lead poisoning and hence their unreasonable attitude!

Check your house deeds. It will say if there is a shared responsibilty.

As another said, I would repair the leak by capping it off.

If you have to pay for repair, take them to small claims court.

Capping off the potable water supply to the neighbour is unlikely to be seen as a reasonable action.