Driveway Shared Water Supply Leak

[Rob Foster]

Most building trades and jobs have an association. I would say that when the job is finished that you will arrange for the relevant trade body to inspect straightaway and assuming all is good pay directly
maybe a building inspector could be involved or someone like the block paving assocaition

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Most building trades and jobs have an association. I would say that when the job is finished that you will arrange for the relevant trade body to inspect straightaway and assuming all is good pay directly
maybe a building inspector could be involved or someone like the block paving assocaition

Not needed on a repair but full install the water board might want to inspect

 

[GSP]

Thanks guys. Believe they are going for the full install. I heard the guy from the company saying a woman kept calling them out to do repairs and it amounted to fifteen thousand pounds so assume he was doing a sell to the neighbours on the full work.

 

[GSP]

Just to add the neighbour said the company was not VAT registered which he seemed happy about. From googling seems companies have to turnover £85k to have to do this. Would of thought with the sums involved this would easily take them over that threshold. Does this add up them not being VAT registered? Something on the side with the work being done Sat-Mon BH weekend?

 

[Rob Foster]

When I was a McAlpines Fusilier a lot of the A33 Risely bypass ended up on locals driveways - basecoat, top coat,gullies all done with site equipement, terex (me), rollers and a D9 Cat once ! All done summer evenings and Sundays and bank holidays. If there is any blackstuff involved then it will old stuff and not be right temperature cause the plants are on shutdown

 

[GSP]

What if anything went wrong Rob. Was the work guaranteed? Did you ever have to go back to a job?
Thanks

 

[Rob Foster]

The road took 12 months and we were all gone

 

[GSP]

Thanks Rob. Does it suggest to you with this company working over the Bank holiday weekend. If something goes wrong we are unlikely to have them back to put right.

 

[Rob Foster]

Do let us know what you decide to do and how it all unfolds - it helps us to help others

 

[GSP]

Been up most the night thinking about this and like many always think the worst.
I am really not comfortable with this. The neighbour would have gone for the cheapest company and suspect he would not have researched/looked for reviews on who he has chosen. My fears are we will be in a worse state afterwards. A company turning up in spare time? What comeback is there if things turn out badly?
Is it worth having a word with the water company for any advice? After their investigation showed the leak was under the neighbours driveway, they served a 30 day notice and expect they are just waiting for notification work has been carried out.
Should I be involved more especially as I may be asked for half the cost when they are well into digging up piping?
Not having any control over this feels very vulnerable and at the "mercy" of others.
Any advice welcome thanks.

 

[GSP]

Okay. A big development.
I have contacted the water company and they say the supply is not shared, I have my own supply. When they came round a couple of weeks back to look at the leak and we were out, our supply had been turned off. Appears they turned our stopcock off in the street by mistake.
Only concern now is the company coming around to do the work and the impact they will have on our new driveway. Both mine and the neighbours stop cocks are located at the end of my driveway. If they decide to replace all the piping I expect they will have to trench and dig up the corner of the driveway.
As they are going to be doing work, would it be possible they could locate my neighbours stopcock at the end of his property?

 

[Ric2013]

You can ask the neighbour to relocate. He may go for it as it would probably be cheaper than re-laying block paving or he may say he has an easement allowing him to run his water supply under your drive. You can also be obstructive and deny him access to your property. Then he may take you to court citing the easement, but at least the court will give him clear rules to follow. Best to be seen making reasonable requests first though.

Quite honestly, I'd write him a letter saying if he needs to dig up your drive, you'll need to know exactly how much he needs to dig up and then you'll get a quote from the person who laid the drive in the first place to carry out the permanent repair to the same standard as the rest and it is a condition of him being allowed access that he pays you the money BEFORE he digs up the drive on the understanding that you will give him any money left over if your repair work proves cheaper, and a copy of your firm's invoice. Also that you want to see the Public Liability Insurance of the person/firm doing his work if you're concerned the person is not a bona fide tradesman.

In all honesty, I water supplies are often 'moled' so no digging would be required. I had the impression that a new water supply pipe wouldn't usually cost more than two thousand, but I'll leave others to comment on that.

 

[GSP]

Thanks Ric.
Even better news for us if this works. Wife noticed there was a blue line from the stopcock at the end of our driveway which pointed diagonally to the end of the neighbours property. Looks like they won't have to interfere with our driveway, although it looks a pretty near thing.
The water has been coming out 2-3 weeks now and discolouration and green algae are appearing on the affected part of our driveway.
Wasn't their fault their pipe leaked but would want this rectified, but wondering what point to approach the neighbour on this.

 

[Rob Foster]

come on then get camera out take some pics and post on here we are all involved even my mrs who is a barrister who has been thinking
how to protect you - waiting 4 some pics

 

[GSP]

Will do. Will take them tomorrow when the light is better.