Manhole in garden

blackstar

Hi 

We recently moved into a new property and have been wondering why we always get flies and a terrible smell when sitting on the decking in front of the kitchen window in the back garden.

We unscrewed a couple of the decking boards and discovered a manhole sewer. 

It wasn't sealed or anything. ...well someone had put a concrete makeshift slab on it which didn't fit and certainly didn't seal the edges with large gaps around the edges allowing smells and vermin to come out of. 

Shouldn't the water company have this sealed up with a proper cover ie like the ones you see in the street?

Please see picture. It was also clogged up which is now unclogged by the water company.  I wish I had asked about this. 

MikeJXE

• If thats the state of it after the water board cleaned it out What did it look like before ?

I have laid drains for to hundreds of homes since 1960 and thats is no sewer. 

A sewer inspection chamber would have a channel at the bottom with an inlet and an outlet 

Maybe its an old well filled in or a disused drain 

I am more likely to go for a surface water catch pit 

blackstar

Sorry no they cleaned it out after that photo. Now it is just a tunnel where you see the water going and you can see the pipe edges either side.
So what is that actually called?

FreeBear

blackstar said:

Sorry no they cleaned it out after that photo. Now it is just a tunnel where you see the water going and you can see the pipe edges either side.
So what is that actually called?

Inspection Chamber.

Fortunately, sealed manhole covers are not particularly expensive and can be fitted by a builder quite easily. It would probably be wise to put another course of brick down before cementing the manhole frame in place. Unless this is a shared drain, maintenance and repair is your responsibility.

MikeJXE

So if it is clean now do you have a photo 

Are there channels in the bottom and running free 

Does water run along them if you flush the loo or run the sink tap

If above is true it’s a foul sewer 

If not it’s a surface water drain 

Bed this on cement mortar 

There are cheaper ones if it is surface water 

Mutton_Geoff

Looks like some kind of bodge around handling the kitchen sink waste drainage.

Need a wider view to see how/where those pipes run.

Where is the toilet soil pipe in relation to all this?

Jellynailer

If it is not for sewage, it may lead to pipes of neighbours which in turn lead to a soakaway = 

blockage due to years of previous owners having no filter for food items in the kitchen sink. 

In which case the problem will not be the responsibity of the water company.

Suggest that you look at the plans attach to your lease or transfer deed if you are a freeholder.  The plan will show dotted lines leading from your kitchen and, separately, from your bathroom + for your neighbours = show linkages between you all.

Hope this is helpful.

ic

Details here about who has responsibility for what: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/sewerage/who-is-responsible-for-repairing-drains-and-sewers/#:~:text=Generally speaking, you're usually,some private or unadopted sewers.

EssexHebridean

@blackstar - when you went through the conveyancing for the purchase of the property your solicitor will have sent you the drainage search - that should give you a clearer picture of what is where in terms of sewers and drains around the property. Take a look at that as a first port of call (Make sure the copy you are looking at is the coloured version as that will make it easier to see what runs where. The reference to looking at the Transfer (TR1) is probably a red herring as you wouldn't usually have a plan - and far less a drainage plan - with the transfer. The lease would tell you about the responsibilities round some pipework, but again, a lease plan doesn't generally show drainage. 

blackstar

Thanks all
 The solicitors didnt send us a sewer search just the title deeds after we bought the property. We are in Scotland so not sure if different.
Wonder why a sewer manhole was not mentioned on the deeds or when property was sold to us as we have to always give access to Scottish Water whenever issues and remove decking for them.

As the new owner of the house we have been badly served by the original owner who sold it to us we fewl due to the many defects and issues not disclosed.

I can only say that I am very distressed at the thought that this manhole seems to have been deliberately disguised, and I am worried about the consequences of having this on my property i.e. house value decrease, access of workmen, being unable to add anything on top of this area in the garden, potential safety issues, disruptions, the constant sewer waste smells when in garden, the flies, sewerage flooding and general appearance etc. 

But was the owner in an obligation to disclose this? Maybe they were not. Or was anyone suppose to disclose this to us before we purchased the property? And if so who?

EssexHebridean

Ahh if this is in Scotland then that could well make all sorts of things different - not least the search protocol. In England, part of the standard search pack done on conveyancing includes a drainage and water search - usually along with a Local Authority Search and Environmental Search.  That Drainage and Water search includes detailed plans showing where drainage and sewers run. Those searches get sent to buyers during the conveyancing process and the buyer will be asked to check through them, and ask questions of their solicitor on anything they aren't clear about.