Blocked rainwater drains on pre-1937 house?

[nebjamin]

Hi,

Have moved into a new house and discovered that 2 of the 3 rainwater drains are blocked by root ingress. One has collapsed.

As far as I know, the rainwater drains into the foul sewer. This is what the survey said and would be consistent with traps on each rainwater drain.

I've had a peek under the manhole cover and there's one inlet that I think must be coming from next door - there is nothing on my property that would explain that, and... the angle of inlet is just right for it to be next door's rainwater.

I'm not sure about the exact year of construction of this house - all I know is that it's '1930s'. However it has solid walls so possibly before 1937.

I have read that where 2 properties share a drain and they were built before 1937 then the drain is the responsibility of the water board (Thames water in this case).

Can anyone provide more information/tips as to how I could proceed?

Thanks
Ben

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

The rules have changed now, the Water Authority now have responsibility for all shared drains, i.e. those that serve more than one property. If the problem lies in pipework from a gulley to the main drain that just drains your roof, then i'm afraid its down to you to sort it out.

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.1278