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Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:26 pm
by ali
Hi I would appreciate your advice about a sticky neighbour dispute! We are the start point of a communal drain but do not have a manhole in our garden. Our neighbours have the first manhole in the chain. An original Victorian soil pipe runs down the back of our house and straight into the ground. It finishes in their manhole flush with the wall about 30cm above the gully. It is the original clay pipe. In 2002 we had a loft conversion with new bathroom fitted and the builders connected the new toilet to this soil downpipe. Some 5 years on, our neighbours have had a flood of water and sewage into their kitchen extension from this pipe back through their gully cover. It transpires that they connect their rainwater from three adjoining neighbours into this pipe also. On CCTV examination there is a large deposit of scale which reduces the pipe diameter by 15% and it is this they have said caused the blockage. This company told us we can use this pipe for soil, another company has told our neighbours we can't. The Local Authority will not send anyone out to inspect it. Does the set up of this pipe sound like it should just be a vent and no more? or are we entitled to use it? Sorry to be so long winded. This problem has already caused a lot of angst and cost a lot of money!!!
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:43 pm
by lutonlagerlout
sounds like they are talking rubbish ali
if it worked for 5 years nevermind the preceding 100 years theres nothing wrong with it
the fact that you dont have a manhole has nothing to do with it,the pipe run was existing on your property and you have utilised it ==>end of
whats probably happened (i was clearing a manhole today so i know this)
someone (man/woman/child) has put something they shouldnt of down the loo
all that loos should take is no.1s, no.2s, and a bit of tissue
sadly tampons ,condoms,cheese sandwiches and xmas wrapping paper are not suitable for 100mm pipe runs (have found all of these blocking pipes)
if there was a problem your end it would have happened in the first 6 weeks not 6 years
if as they claim this pipe is only a vent where does your soil go then??
best try and sort it out amicably without solicitors
cheers LLL 
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:44 pm
by ali
Thanks for your quick reply LLL. The problem is that because this soil pipe was never connected to anything before because our loo was downstairs before the loft conversion the neighbours won't have it that we can use it. The neighbour is a plumber and will not listen to reason. Who are we best to contact to help sort this out once and for all?
Cheers.
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:59 pm
by flowjoe
If it is a vent pipe then it is on a soil or combined storm/soil system, so you can tap what you want into it.
I dont ever recall finding a vent on a storm system other than for garage forcourts or petrol interceptors.
By the way a shared victorian drain or any shared drain pre 1937 is a public sewer so pass it on to your local authority to sort out.
Edited By flowjoe on 1170446480
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:58 pm
by ali
yes. it is definitely a foul sewer. Thanks a lot for your help.
Cheers.
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:35 pm
by ali
Just one moe question if you happen to look at this again LLL? The neighbour says that the original clay pipe may be 4 inches in external diameter but is only 3.5 inches internally and so is not suitable for soil. Is this correct?
Cheers
Ali