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Trebor000
Posts: 12 Forumite
We commissioned a CCTV survey of the drains on the house we are buying on advice of our surveyor (as they went under the house).
The drain runs under the house and they found tree roots to be blocking the pipe, to the extent they couldn't finish the survey. This appears to be under the c2m
of front garden,rather than the house.
1) Is the normally covered under home insurance? Can the vendor claim and then works complete after we exchange? Quoted 500 for removal and inspection and 1750 to line the pipe or 2750 to dig and then line (as worse outcome estimates from the inspection company)
2) is there any chance the water company picks up the bill? (it doesn't appear to be a shared drain), but damage may occur under the footpath as well as the front garden
Thanks in advance
The drain runs under the house and they found tree roots to be blocking the pipe, to the extent they couldn't finish the survey. This appears to be under the c2m
of front garden,rather than the house.
1) Is the normally covered under home insurance? Can the vendor claim and then works complete after we exchange? Quoted 500 for removal and inspection and 1750 to line the pipe or 2750 to dig and then line (as worse outcome estimates from the inspection company)
2) is there any chance the water company picks up the bill? (it doesn't appear to be a shared drain), but damage may occur under the footpath as well as the front garden
Thanks in advance
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Comments
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The water company will only clear the sewer free of charge if the sewer line in question is a shared one, ie serves more than one property. If you are unsure, they will normally offer a free survey to you to see who is responsible in the first instance.0
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2) is there any chance the water company picks up the bill? (it doesn't appear to be a shared drain), but damage may occur under the footpath as well as the front garden
The home owner is responsible for drains up until the boundary, the water company is responsible for drains beyond the boundary.
So 'under the footpath' sounds like it would be the water companies responsibility.1) Is the normally covered under home insurance?
You'd have to read the policy - but there are usually exclusions for 'gradual damage'.
The FOS has a long article about it:
https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/businesses/complaints-deal/insurance/home-buildings-insurance/damage-underground-pipesQuoted 500 for removal and inspection and 1750 to line the pipe or 2750 to dig and then line (as worse outcome estimates from the inspection company)
FWIW, the drainage firm I used just pushed a root cutter down the pipe from a manhole, then lined the pipe afterwards.
But obviously, that doesn't mean that approach will work in all cases.
I guess it's a case of getting a few quotes plus a few opinions.0 -
The pipe between a property and the mains in the road is normally the property-owner's responsibility (unless shared). This may include under the footpath - the 'handover'point of responsibility is the mains stopcock or water meter in the street. (both of those are the company's responsibility).
I'd not rely on the vendor fixing this - they'll do the minimum possible (after all, they're outa there!). Better to cost it into your purchase and get it done yourself properly.
Notwithstanding this, some water companies will (or used to) cover the cost of a first issue (but never subsequent ones).
Standard buildings insurance policies sometimes cover either
* exploration and identification and/or
* remedial works and/or
* nothing!
It depends on the policy.
My water company send me applications for dedicated insurance for this pipework with every bill (which I ignore). This is because if the pipe runs under the house it can be very expensive to replace/fix.0 -
I had a similar situation at my last house. Several people explained to me why it was always better to dig it up and relay new pipework. You could get other quotes but in the meantime start renegotiating the price.
Make sure the agent is fully aware of the issue so the vendor doesn't try to remarket keeping quiet about the problem.Signature on holiday for two weeks0 -
The pipe between a property and the mains in the road is normally the property-owner's responsibility (unless shared). This may include under the footpath - the 'handover'point of responsibility is the mains stopcock or water meter in the street. (both of those are the company's responsibility).
Ummm.... are you talking about a mains water supply?
The OP is talking about tree roots in a drain.0 -
Thanks all, very helpful0
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