Sewers and Insurance?
Discussion
Over the new year break my drains were blocked.
Investigations showed that the sewer for 4 houses in a row were blocked. It turns out they all join together and run into a manhole in a 5th garden via a tumbler system. The blockage is in the tumbler system and the overflow on the tumbler has been cleared so at least the drains are unblocked temporarilly.
Looking in the manhole it is clear that it serves at least one other house excluding mine and the 3 neighbours. The manhole itself protrudes above the ground level by approximately a foot, which may be due to the house owner having done landscaping works in the past or for other reasons, but currently unknown.
Looking into the manhole it is also clear that the wall of the manhole on the side of our inlet is suffering from movement, has cracked etc.
So the question is assumming it is a private sewer which is looking likely is the cost of fixing this something that can be claimed on the buildings insurance. If so is it the owner of the garden where the manhole is who claims, and will his insurance company then seek a share of the costs (plus presumably their admin costs) from the four of us?
Advice comments etc gratefully received
Investigations showed that the sewer for 4 houses in a row were blocked. It turns out they all join together and run into a manhole in a 5th garden via a tumbler system. The blockage is in the tumbler system and the overflow on the tumbler has been cleared so at least the drains are unblocked temporarilly.
Looking in the manhole it is clear that it serves at least one other house excluding mine and the 3 neighbours. The manhole itself protrudes above the ground level by approximately a foot, which may be due to the house owner having done landscaping works in the past or for other reasons, but currently unknown.
Looking into the manhole it is also clear that the wall of the manhole on the side of our inlet is suffering from movement, has cracked etc.
So the question is assumming it is a private sewer which is looking likely is the cost of fixing this something that can be claimed on the buildings insurance. If so is it the owner of the garden where the manhole is who claims, and will his insurance company then seek a share of the costs (plus presumably their admin costs) from the four of us?
Advice comments etc gratefully received
Not a direct answer to your problem, but the place i'm (hopefully) moving to has a private shared drainage system i.e. not the responsibility of the water company.
The solicitors mentioned this point to me, as there is no set procedure to deal with these sort of sewage problem, though it's generally up to owners or occupiers of the properties that use / connect into the sewer ABOVE the point of blockage to repair it...
if it's your manhole, i think your neighbours may assume its your responsibility, but you could insist that it's a shared resource with them. being a reasonable sort of chap, if i damaged it due to landscaping etc. i would pay for it, but people aren't always reasonable...
Boss now gpone out so I have spoken with my insurance company.
Apparently the person in whoms garden the manhole is in has to claim. His insurance company will then claim off my insurance all all those others affected.
However my insurance company will want to know the cause of the damage presumably so they can avoid paying!
Apparently the person in whoms garden the manhole is in has to claim. His insurance company will then claim off my insurance all all those others affected.
However my insurance company will want to know the cause of the damage presumably so they can avoid paying!
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