Downpipe Conflict

[AmboBunny]

Hi All. Need some advice

Just had my guttering cleared out and been told that next door has ‘stolen our downpipe’ let me explain

I live in a semi detached house and share a downpipe with my neighbours. There are 3 getters that go into one hopper.

My neighbour has attached their gutter seen in red directly to the downpipe leaving the shared one and my one (far left) to fill the hopper until it flows over.

Is this legal ?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Pictures looking into the hopper would help.

Andy

 

[Alastairreid]

Where did the neighbours outlet drain to previously?.

 

[AmboBunny]

Pictures looking into the hopper would help.

Andy

It’s not great photos I’m afraid the chap doing it for me had a bit of a shakey video

 

[AmboBunny]

Where did the neighbours outlet drain to previously?.

So the drainpipe comes down right on the property line but the pipe is predominantly on our side of the fence.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

How long has this arrangement existed?

 

[AmboBunny]

How long has this arrangement existed?

We are not sure we purchased and moved into the house in February and it has been like it the whole time.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Then it's probably been like it forever. Your photos are pretty useless, what we need is one of the whole front of both houses.

 

[Mr Chibs]

Love the photos, like crime scene photography...

 

[Dereekoo]

If you are saying that your neighbours gutter pipe is going into the hopper and directly into the hoppers outlet so it blocks off flows from the other pipes escaping I don't know about legal but its not a satisfactory situation. Ask the neighbour to be cut the gutter pipe shorter so it just discharges into the hopper or cut it shorter yourself

 

[AmboBunny]

If you are saying that your neighbours gutter pipe is going into the hopper and directly into the hoppers outlet so it blocks off flows from the other pipes escaping I don't know about legal but its not a satisfactory situation. Ask the neighbour to be cut the gutter pipe shorter so it just discharges into the hopper or cut it shorter yourself

Yes that’s basically the issue. I’m just preparing for my neighbours to refuse. They’ve tried to start legal action against another neighbour because they cut down some trees at risk of falling into power line because they can now smell the fish and chip shop.

 

[Dereekoo]

Yes that’s basically the issue. I’m just preparing for my neighbours to refuse. They’ve tried to start legal action against another neighbour because they cut down some trees at risk of falling into power line because they can now smell the fish and chip shop.

I think you would have a better chance than them with legal action for them causing damp on your walls, tell them not to visit the seaside

 

[mattylad]

Amobunny, your pictures of into the hopper are very unclear, a picture from a little further back that shows all pipes into it would be more helpful in helping you (as would a pic of both houses as requested). Although this would be hard to get now.

IF that downpipe goes into the drain on your side of the fence then you too are entitled to use that hopper, simply fettle the ends going to it and unblock them.
Be it cutting or removing the end piece, also cut/modify the neighbours downpipe so that the water pours into the hopper instead of going directly into the downpipe. You may wish to get someone to do this for you at your cost. (I say your cost because you do not know who did this current setup before you moved in).

 

[AmboBunny]

Amobunny, your pictures of into the hopper are very unclear, a picture from a little further back that shows all pipes into it would be more helpful in helping you (as would a pic of both houses as requested). Although this would be hard to get now.

IF that downpipe goes into the drain on your side of the fence then you too are entitled to use that hopper, simply fettle the ends going to it and unblock them.
Be it cutting or removing the end piece, also cut/modify the neighbours downpipe so that the water pours into the hopper instead of going directly into the downpipe. You may wish to get someone to do this for you at your cost. (I say your cost because you do not know who did this current setup before you moved in).

Brilliant thank you. If the drain is on their side can they restrict access to the hopper.

 

[CBW]

Some people have nothing better to do, legal action ffs. Your arrangement is quite common in semi-detached and terraced properties.