Neighbour's Waste Pipe Runs Under my Backyard

[Brazzerie]

Sorry this is a bit long but I need to explain the scenario. My neighbour's soil pipe runs underneath the backyard of my house (where my son, his wife and his 6 year-old daughter now live). It then joins our soil pipe and goes on to the main sewer. They are both 3-storey 5-bedroomed terraced houses. Several years ago the drain blocked, causing an issue for both houses due to a poor flow and a build-up of waste over time, and it had to be rodded. A new owner moved in nextdoor 6 months ago, a single woman in her 30s. She then rented rooms out to people and wild parties started happening every weekend. All the people in the area were affected, and my son got environmental health to send them a letter. They then had parties less often and told my son in advance so his family could stay somewhere else that night - they never told anyone else though! People living there have now started arriving home at 3:00 in the morning 2 or 3 times a week, waking people up with loud drunken voices and prolonged loud music playing on a car stereo, before finally going indoors. We now notice that the drain has started to block again because we can see water seeping from our waste pipe at first floor level whenever the toilet is flushed, meaning it isn't running away fast enough. I suspect it's been caused by there being a lot more people using their toilets, and probably flushing away face wipes etc. as well. The question is - if I can't get a satisfactory resolution to the issues caused by these new neighbours, do I have the right to simply disconnect their soul pipe forcing them to route their waste to somewhere else?

 

[gmartine]

Of course you can't disconnect their sewage pipe and hope for the best, I'd sue you for damages as well as all the fees incurred if I had to move out while you also paid for the repair/reconnection.

 

[Brazzerie]

The houses were build around 1880 - should the local water authority (United Utilities) therefore now be responsible for unblocking the drain?

 

[gmartine]

You're responsible for what lies within your boundary, if the cause/blockage possibly lies elsewhere you should negotiate with them.

 

[Brazzerie]

Isn't the shared pipe under our backyard now a 'Section 24' drain?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Only shared after your connection onto it

Also re route to where they all join the main stink pipe

 

[Brazzerie]

The blockage is after our pipe joins onto it, so who is responsible for that section - is that bit now down to the water authority as a Section 24?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes down to uu

 

[Brazzerie]

Thanks both for your advice. I'll get on to United Utilities first thing and take it from there

 

[snowhead]

Isn't the shared pipe under our backyard now a 'Section 24' drain?

All the pipe under your property that the neighbour discharges into is the responsibility and property of United Utilities.
They would need to unblock and replace if required.
Your neighbour previously had an established right of access over your land for the pipe.

You are only responsible for and own, the section that only you discharge into.

Not only do you need United Utilities permission to interfere with the shared pipe you also need their permission to build within 1 mtr of it.

 

[Brazzerie]

Understood, many thanks for the help folks!