Connecting to neighbour's combined drain - What are the legal issues with this?

Foul and surface water, private drains and public sewers, land drains and soakaways, filter drains and any other ways of getting rid of water.
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Mark F
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 11:17 am
Location: Leeds

Post: # 42074Post Mark F

Hi All
I own a blind back-to-back property and currently the top 2 flats have a soil pipe running down the side of the chimney breast ??? ! Obviously this has to go. I want to connect to a neighbour's combined drain out the back. I've read some relevant posts here but am now more confused than before. The land out back is owned by the local council. What do I have to do?

flowjoe
Posts: 1136
Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 9:25 am
Location: North West

Post: # 42083Post flowjoe

Theres a couple of issues here.

Ist job is to find a drain to connect into, then find out who owns the drain.

If its a private drain to a household you will have to get their permission and then prove that your planned works wont affect the performance of the system, always worth getting a camera survey done prior to any works so you dont get blamed for any future defects.

Some homeowners will want a legal document and easement ££££, most just want some £££.

If its a local authority drain you have to apply for a connection, if you can prove you already use the system further along the line you may not have to pay for a full connection permit.

Whoever the drain belongs to if its under council land you need their permission to excavate, thats another licence and more £££££ and you will need relevant certs for a permit.

Good look :)
http://draindomain.com

Many paths can lead to riches, few in sunlight, some in ditches

Mark F
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 11:17 am
Location: Leeds

Post: # 42207Post Mark F

Thanks FlowJoe.
I have the forms to send to Yorkshire Water to apply for a connection permit. They will send out an inspector before I fill it all in again.

I've written to the local council housing officer who is in the process of working out what their requirements are. I think your tip of getting a CCTV survey is an excellent one!

I wasn't expecting to have to get a license to excavate from the council however. I'll post back to let you know how I get on.

Mark F
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 11:17 am
Location: Leeds

Post: # 42208Post Mark F

Hang on, penny drops: The drain belongs to a house owned by Leeds City Council and all the work will be on their land. Im not sure whether I need a connection permit from Yorkshire Water now - maybe just permission from LCC. My brain hurts!

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