Shared mains water supply?

[yamaha]

I moved into a property nearly 4 years ago (a new build then) and have only recently discovered that my neighbour has developed a water mains leak under her house. I have since discovered that this is a shared water supply, and I, now need to get an independant water supply to my house. My question is, am I responsible for the plumbing costs within my property as well as the costs to the water board, or can I claim through an appropriate insurer?

Thanks uk plumbers for any help in advance.

 

[Blake]

As a rule your water board is responsible for any leaks, repairs up until the rising main which is normally located outside your house on the pavement or drive. From that point onwards ( into your house) you are responsible for all repairs.

I doubt you can claim through an insurer but a quick phone call to them will clarify this.

 

[yamaha]

Thanks for your reply Darryl, I am fairly cheesed off at the moment, as someone in the local planning dept, or whoever, has signed this off as being acceptable. I suppose, all I was just looking for was a way round this, and to blame or indeed share the costs with another party, ie planning dept. Thanks anyway.

Gav

 

[stevetheplumber]

thanks for your reply darryl, i am fairly cheesed off at the moment, as someone in the local planning dept, or whoever, has signed this off as being acceptable. I suppose, all i was just looking for was a way round this, and to blame or indeed share the costs with another party, ie planning dept. Thanks anyway.

Gav

if your a family id leave it alone that way you cant have a meter

 

[Robtheplumb]

If the property was a new build 4 years ago chances are there is a meter

 

[Puddle]

Do not know the in's and outs but am surprised you have a shared mains in such a recent build

Is the other house a new build also,or older,original,if this the case ,would have thought down to you and maybe an issue with builder/builder insurer

If both new builds,would have thought,any separate main to you would be a joint cost between you and your neighbour at least,as at present, you both are using each others main supply,unless main registered with neighbour only,have you been paying water rates,if so this is not the case
Then also take up with builder or builder insurer

imho

 

[marleyco]

done same type of job recently, burst lead water main in house, also supplying next door via property with leak. insurance said they would pay half and the neighbour paying the the other half. water board will waste your time and give you the run around. one problem, tell a plumber that one half of his bill will be paid but maybe not the other half will prob chase them down the path. i qouted high to the insurer to cover potential non payment, then would be on bonus if i got paid the rest.

 

[jay s]

been to a property which had 2 incoming mains into property supplying different services within house and yes did get wet when cut into second without knowing. water board only new of one.

 

[Bernie2]

Agree with puddle.

It does sound strange that a 4 year old property is on a shared water main.

However I should imagine, if the other property if older, had a water main before the new house was built and all the new house has done is branch into it.

Then the cost should be shared if the leak is before the branch i.e on the shared part of the main and the individual houses cost if its after the branch on the individual supply branch pipe.

 

[justlead1]

Hi. It is likley that the shared supply was arranged to avoid the infrastructure charge for a new connection to the water main. (Can be in the reign of £1500) If built to NHBC compliance its worth checking out there policy for this occurrence. As for insurance, i have found the repairs to pipes will not be meet but reinstatement of the parts of the building that are effected often are.

 

[cjmcknight]

if your a family id leave it alone that way you cant have a meter

if you have 50 acres of land and need to water it regularly then yes, stay of a meter. it is much cheaper on meter FACT!!!

 

[GQuigley67]

happened to me before turned off toby to semi detached house, angry woman from the adjacent street comes around and shouts at me for turning her water off

 

[oldplumber]

if you have 50 acres of land and need to water it regularly then yes, stay of a meter. it is much cheaper on meter FACT!!!

if you have a large family it most definitely is not cheaper on a meter, stay on rates, if your on your own or 2 of you a meter can be cheaper. REAL FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bernie2]

Problem is once they get you on a meter you have to go careful they do not start all that advertising lark.

Isn't 10p a litre cheap for water?

A couple of years later its. Isn't £1.20 a litre cheap for water?

Its still cheaper than petrol and you can drink it!!!

or

At £4 a litre its still cheaper than beer and you don't get a hangover.

 

[WHPES]

I am working on a property which has a single stop tap in the pavement for 4 properties, and the internal stop tap in the property also turns off next door. I think it was originally all owned by the same person and leased.

 

[AWheating]

if it a new build it will have a 10year nhbc or zurich certificate. i would contact whichever and try to get them to sort it out. I have had a precast flue fixed under a nhbc 10 year warranty, the house was 8 years old.

 

[Joncpi]

Be very, very careful here. Are you paying a seperate bill to your local Water Authority?, if not they have the right to cut either you or your neighbour off and charge for the last 4 years. Bernie2 is right if the leak is before the branch off to each house but after the meter or external stopcock then each house owner is liable for half the repair each. If the leak is before the meter or stopcock, or after up to the boundary, then it is down to the Water Board to fix. Insurance companies do have to pay for the repair if you say it is broken due to ground movement. It's up to them to prove it wasn't and that is far too expensive for them to do. There was a court case about this about 10 years ago maybe more. But you are likely to experience difficulty in reminding them of this! Some insurance companies insure the service I think Halifax does, and some Water Boards offer insurance for services and drains, Southern Water does, up to a certain value

 

[Joncpi]

A water meter for 2 people is definitly cheaper, but if you are 4 or more or use a lot of water gardening or have a swimming pool then it is more expensive than being based on your Rateable Value. Another point about a meter is that if you get a leak then you are still liable for the water that has passed through the meter even though you haven't actually "used it". If you are having a meter fitted then consider having a new service as well or take your own regular readings from the meter, say every 2 weeks. You can then spot a leak before the bill becomes enormous. There are serveral things about this, one, you can turn the water off when you dont need it, and ,two, inform the Water Board most will then take a reading, slap a notice on you to get it fixed, then when it's fixed take another reading and not charge you for the loss of water. Not all will do this but some do. If you have a leak and dont detect it until the big bill then after paying the waste water charges you can most definitely claim back some of these waste charges. Again water reading are needed after the leak is fixed and by looking back in the records it can be worked out when the leak started. You can claim a proprtion of all that back. Another thing about a leak is if you have a meter fitted and a leak is found on your service then the Water Board will not start charging you through the meter until the leak is fixed. You will stay on the Rates.