Help ... Shared downpipe conflict

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Hi all...newbie here. Sorry long winded opening post but stay with me...

11/11/18 I bought a terraced house. My house delivers 4 houses with of rain water which terminates at a small 6" down pipe vertically above the overlap of my neighbours gutter and downpipe (there is no other downpipe or drains....house is early 1900s)
Along the front of my house runs a condenser pipe from my boiler which feeds into a "y" piece on the downpipe.
Up until 8 weeks ago all was fine but for some reason the down pipe of my neighbours started to overflow (remember my small downpipe feeds into this section from above).
My neighbours insisted the problem was mine following a gutter expert who came out to investigate (in the dry). At this point I hadn't seen the overflow of water so waited until next time it rained where I filmed it.
Sure enough it overflows out the neighbors downpipe and gutter. My neighbours insisted this was my fault because the guttering wasn't right etc. I called the guttering expert out and out of courtesy and despite disputing the issue was mine, had £400 of non critical works done, leveling and reducing the flow angle refitting the unison and some felt work.The next rains, guess what it overflowed again! My neighbor demanded I get the chap back as the issue wasn't resolved. He categorically told them the issue wasn't mine (remember I've paid £400in works to ease the issue).. This time he dismantled the down pipe identifying flaws that the prior experts had made such as the downpipe being in several sections and the fact those sections were held together by 2" screws. He dismantled up to the y section where my condenser pipe enters the down pipe where it was believed a blockage existed. As he isn't insured for removal of associated gas pipe he couldn't progress leaving the pipe work dismantled and recommended that one of us clear the blockage. Sure enough I freed a bit of moss and a few stones and rocks. I also suggested I remove the condenser pipe and cut 2" off in case it was pretruding too far into the down pipe. However the following day I put the downpipe back together but didn't cut the condenser pipe back instead wanting to know if the blockage was clear given all winter it hadn't been an issue. On further thought it was identified 8 weeks or so ago earlier my neighbours had repointing works done on their chimney. This week during the next rain the pipe again overflowed.
My neighbors is now telling me they are replacing the down pipe and I need to find a solution for rerouting my condenser pipe as this is clearly the cause (their words). I advised them that the pipe by this time had been cut and removed to prove the blockage and had they considered that the 2" screws as stated by the guttering guy would be playing their part I. Snagging debris falling down the pipe. Today they've had the downpipe cleared but insist this is temporary and a new downpipe will be installed however the gutter cleaning guy has advised that my guttering is too low and a new downpipe won't be possible to fit!!
To add to this situation, prior to purchasing the house the neighbors had the guttering and downpipe replaced. The prior owner of my house asked if he could move the downpipe so rendering of the front of the house could be conducted. Further more to use this as an option to run the condenser pipe into the downpipe which they agreed too but keep saying they wish they hadn't allowed him to do so..... All they keep going on about is that it was never put back properly.

At the moment I'm not sure what my options are. I'd like my own down pipe but I have no drain to run into....it's the other side of a wall on my neighbours side. I understand that you can't drain rain water out onto a pathway.
The condenser, God knows how I'm going to route that. I can't have a soak away as my front garden is the size of a postage stamp and it has to be so far away from house foundations.

I genuinely have no idea where this anger has come from. I've played nice and done my bit to try and aid the situation at my expense and time yet they still persist. I've not responded to the last rant as my last reply stated that I need to investigate what options I have ... That could be read as physically with the condenser or legally.... Giving them time to stew on it.

Anyone have any thoughts. I think I've covered all facts and it's not like I have made changes other than those to try and aid resolve the issue. I've only inherited what is already in place :/

Is there a solution where I can have my own drain and downpipe installed and be separate from them altogether.... I assume this to be massive money if at all possible?

Sorry for the long post.

Cheers
 
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A couple for now....my house is the grey house on the left.
 

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I am no expert but I thought that you'd have drainage rights to that pipe?

My house is a semi and our front roofs drain independently but the rear shares a downpipe which is on my land.
 
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I am no expert but I thought that you'd have drainage rights to that pipe?

My house is a semi and our front roofs drain independently but the rear shares a downpipe which is on my land.
Thanks, I don't think there is any chance that they could prevent that but they can stop my condenser entering it.
I just don't want to get into any legal issues (you hear expensive horror stories). I know darn well any future issues will be put on me.
The worst of this issue is I've never spoken to them before now. I keep myself to myself, live alone, work away from home and work shifts so it's not like I'm constantly home causing issues..... It's absurd :/
 
Can you summarise the issues into a few bullet points?

From what I can see initially is that it's their downpipe, but whilst you have a right (and they owe you a duty) to transfer rain water from your roof gutters, there is no similar right (or duty) to accept your condensate pipe - that will need to go into a limestone soakaway in the ground.

You can also install your own downpipe to your own soakaway if you can fit one in 5m from any building, and the ground is permeable enough (ie not solid clay). To install a new downpipe to an existing drain will need building regulations and water authority approval.
 
A better view of the house and small size of garden.
 

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TBH, that condensate pipe may be incorrectly installed for several reasons in the first place.

And should only connect to the rainwater pipe if its a combined system.
 
The problem must be high up otherwise your boiler would be flooding.

I wonder if the water flowing down your gutter hits the water flowing the opposite way along their gutter, and stops it running freely down the outlet?

Maybe if you put an outlet on yours and joined both in a big hopper?

Either way, it’s not just your roof water going down there, it’s at least 1 other neighbour on the opposite side too.
 
TBH, that condensate pipe may be incorrectly installed for several reasons in the first place.

And should only connect to the rainwater pipe if its a combined system.
It's a combi Worcester Bosch ecostar....something or other. My mate is a gas Safe engineer so he's going to look at options for me once he's back off holiday. I don't admit to being an expert on such matters so looking on you fellow people for advice/guidance
 
The problem must be high up otherwise your boiler would be flooding.

I wonder if the water flowing down your gutter hits the water flowing the opposite way along their gutter, and stops it running freely down the outlet?

Maybe if you put an outlet on yours and joined both in a big hopper?

Either way, it’s not just your roof water going down there, it’s at least 1 other neighbour on the opposite side too.


I thought the same about the water backing up to the boiler so certainly make sense.

Ref the gutter, the rain water stops at mine and then drops into their gutter almost directly above their down pipe so it's not water flow from 2 directions crashing together on a vertical plain. Also there hadn't been issues at all through the winter, only since roof/ chimney works were completed.

Good idea ref the hopper but trust me when I say I'm dealing with the most arrogant neighbors from hell. I would bet my house (not that I'd wish this issue on anyone else) on them flat refusing that idea.

Indeed the volume of water being fed into the single downpipe is crazy. Funny thing is the rest of the street except directly opposite isn't serving so many houses to a single pipe.
 
Unless the boiler has some non return valve?

Does the rainwater pipe go into the floor or is it open at the bottom? I bet it’s still got ****e in it somewhere.
 
Unless the boiler has some non return valve?

Does the rainwater pipe go into the floor or is it open at the bottom? I bet it’s still got ****e in it somewhere.
No there is an air gap the output pipe is smaller diameter and sits in the black pipe (bit like a washing machine waste fitting) near the boiler in the cupboard upstairs. If the rain water backed that far up it'd start to overflow into the cupboard before getting to the boiler.
 
obviously a blockage Not the best offsets to use anyway and will be prone to blockage
fit a hopper at high level where the two separate pipes can empty into.
If Victor Meldrews over flows afterwards its his issue, if the hopper overflows its probably your doing .
 
My house delivers 4 houses with of rain water which terminates at a small 6" down pipe vertically above the overlap of my neighbours gutter and downpipe (there is no other downpipe or drains....house is early 1900s)
6 inch rainwater pipe isn't small ,but I can't see one that big in the pictures , although it could do to be that big to take the rainwater from the gutters of 4 houses :!:
 

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