Should we pay?

Jumblebumble

djbakez said:

In Saturday, whilst we were out,  our neighbour called out a plumbing to unblock a drain in his front garden. He said there was sewage coming out and it needed to be done urgently.  He has since posted a letter through the doors of all 3 properties claiming that each of us reimburse him for our 25% share. 
The compnay on the 'invoice' does not appear to be contactable, the email I sent remains unanswered and there is no VAT number or address for them i cannot find them anywhere, the can parked up was unmarked and they are claiming £649 labour to unblock the drain. On top of this other charges adding up to £900!
My neighbour never obtained consent for this work and has not even spoken to us all just posted a letter grumbling about how he will have to clean his white stones at his expense. Where as I feel for him having to pay this, he does not appear to have used a reputable company or contacted Thames Water. Any thoughts? Also we are insured for this type of thing but not sure if the invoice will suffice.

Your neighbour possibly arranging that he does not pay anything and that you and the other 2 pay it all
Under no circumstances would I be paying as this situation stinks like a rotten dogfish

Silvertabby

Some years ago now, but a blocked drain on our estate turned out to be down to our next door neighbours.  A young couple with a baby.  Who thought that 'disposable' nappies meant 'flushable'.

Our water board would have charged for clearing it, as it wasn't their fault, but neighbour's dad did it.  Accompanied by words I'd never heard during my 22 years in the Armed Forces.  

Okell

Jumblebumble said:

Okell said:

outtatune said:

Unless your deeds say otherwise ...

If this is a shared sewer - one that contains sewage from more than one property - then it is the responsibility of the local water company who will repair it for free. You are only responsible for drains that are on your property and only channel sewage from your property and nobody else's.

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/sewer-flooding/sewer-pipe-responsibility#:~:text=Water company's responsibility,under your garden or driveway.

If he wants to waste his money paying for a service which he's not responsible for that's his lookout.

Don't pay.

I think this ^^^ is the correct answer and I'm sure it's a question that has come up here before.

If it's a shared sewer containing sewage from more than one property then it's the water company's responsibility and nothing to do individual householders.

Tell your neighbour that he needs to go to Thames Water for reimbursement.  (Of course TW may not be interested if he didn't refer the problem to them in the first place, but that isn't the OP's fault)

Out of interest, what is the name of the company?

I am quite amused that you think that there is the remotest chance what ever that Thames Water are going to do anything except toss any request for reimbursement into the nearest dustbin.

No need to be amused. 

I don't think there's any chance of TW reimbursing the neighbour.

Note I said "Tell your neighbour that he needs to go to Thames Water for reimbursement".

It's the neighbour's problem, not the OP's.