Garden Law Discussion

Sounds to me that the neighbours haven't really got an issue with the buildings, (if they had, why not object before now?), but having now seen an opportunity to raise a dispute which will affect the Vendor's ability to sell, they can basically blackmail someone into coughing up a large sum of money...

As an aside and in regard to the drains, as they are shared then from the point the system becomes shared, and/or where a sewer serving one property, passes under the boundary into a neighbouring property, the drain/sewer from that point then becomes the responsibility of the Sewerage provider, (usu...

First port of call would be to speak to Severn Trent, they should have a record on their mapping system as to size and direction of the pipe, possibly even the depth. If it's a main sewer, then it is their asset, and they will have an easement for the sewer and access rights to maintain it. In pract...

It's a limited company who specialises in property refurbs and renting. Then all the Hallmarks are that they know exactly what they are doing, and given a HMO may be/is in the pipeline, I have to wonder if this is an attempt to 'grab' an additional parking area. Stop it now, erect another fence if ...

I would have expected the old septic tank to have been removed/and/or filled in at the same time as the properties were connected to mains drainage. They can be quite deep, and anyone/anything falling in would not get out very easily, so for safety reasons, once it ceased to be of use, it should hav...

Check with the Local Council too, planning permission is required to pave over a previously permeable area, and the fact the drainage is inadequate may also go in your favour.

I can see a possible issue where most companies delivering items with heavy vehicles seek the recipient to sign a waiver before 'Ordering the vehicle to leave the Public Highway'. Ready mix concrete lorries, tippers, skip loaders etc, are often at their legal maximum weight when loaded, if the drive...

I cannot see how you could be held anyway responsible for this septic tank. It is merely located on/under your property, you are neither jointly or separately an 'operator' as the EA require, so I would just sit back now and let the EA and your Neighbours argue it out next year. My main concern righ...

It is important to note, a Septic Tank only needs 'emptying' every so often, to remove accumulated sludge. Under normal operation it will remain 'full', with the clarified effluent leaving the tank, which, depending on the treatment process offered by the setup, can be discharged into a soakaway to ...

Party Wall Agreement may be needed if he plans to carry out work as you describe.

Air bricks are usually around DPC level, and in fact the DPC is clearly visible in the pic! Removal of soil to any sort of depth could undermine the foundations, and land you with a large bill! Work with what you have, the world is not flat!

Doubt there's anything illegal about it, but depending on the size of these containers, I hope his roof is strong enough to support them. 1 litre of water = 1kg, so 500 l of water soon makes some weight. Flat roof's often leak, if the board underneath isn't up to the load, then he could find himself...

Sounds like its blocked further downstream, and the bubbling is air being displaced. Try Building Control at the local Council, any work on drains needs Building Regs approval, doesn't strike me they have got that!

Firstly, did the neighbour have use of the sewer prior to making this rainwater connection to it? If the sewer is shared it is the responsibility of the Water Company as sewerage provider, and although connecting rainwater into a foul sewer is frowned upon now, it is allowed as a last resort if all ...

Need to establish how long it's been there, but the rules changed in 2011, and it may well now be the Water Company's responsibility. Property owners are responsible for any drain serving their property until it meets any drain being used by another property, or passes under the boundary onto a neig...