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Lake maintenance charges

2

Comments

  • loubel
    loubel Posts: 1,065 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Woodee said:
    loubel said:
    Is this information not in the solicitor's report?
    No : (  only the charges relating to grounds maintenance not the lake ! 
    Ask your solicitor to obtain copies of the bills so you can see what the current costs are. Or are you concerned about future costs being too high? Unfortunately that's the issue with privately managed housing estates, which most new build estates are these days.
  • Woodee
    Woodee Posts: 17 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    Green space not a problem, paying for a lake is !! 
  • loubel
    loubel Posts: 1,065 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Is it an actual lake or is it part of a SUDS system?
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 18,851 Forumite
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    loubel said:
    Is it an actual lake or is it part of a SUDS system?
    Yes, I was going ask similar - I am guessing it is related to the drainage or perhaps flood mitigation for the development, not merely an ornamental thing.
  • Woodee
    Woodee Posts: 17 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    loubel said:
    Is it an actual lake or is it part of a SUDS system?
    Hi, I dont know will ask.  I only know that's its a man made lake.  
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,707 Forumite
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    The "lake" is almost certainly the surface water attenuation for the development. It has to be maintained by someone to ensure that the drainage for the whole development is maintained in good working order.
  • loubel
    loubel Posts: 1,065 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Agreed, man-made is almost certainly part of the drainage for the estate and it would be expected that the homeowners will pay for its maintenance. 
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,707 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    loubel said:
    Agreed, man-made is almost certainly part of the drainage for the estate and it would be expected that the homeowners will pay for its maintenance. 
    Not always.

    The surface water attenuation on our estate has been adopted by the local water authority, Severn Trent. It is paid for through our water bills rather than a separate estate charge.

    It depends on the local area as to who is responsible for the attenuation. Some water authorities are better than others when it comes to the adoptions.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    How long has the lake been there?  If it was built at the same time as the houses then that would make it seem much more part of the development than if it were significantly older.  The old maps available at https://maps.nls.uk/ can help get an idea of how long it has existed.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 18,851 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    theoretica said:
    How long has the lake been there?  If it was built at the same time as the houses then that would make it seem much more part of the development than if it were significantly older.  The old maps available at https://maps.nls.uk/ can help get an idea of how long it has existed.
    Rather more easily for something only 3 years old, the planning papers should be available on the council website which will explain about any SUDS scheme.
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