Lowering garden (and pipes)

[blightymam]

Hello!

Got a heck of a job on our hands, which would be great to have advice with.
Bought an ex council property and many many years ago they poured concrete around the back of the house which is either over the damp proof course, or level. We need to lower the garden around the house in order to sort out the damp in the walls and will probably build a french drain, and also use small stones for about 2 meters out from the external walls to give the water somewhere to go.

Couple of problems tho, the outside tap and drain, and the sewer pip & manhole cover at at the level of the garden as it is now, and of course will be too high when we lower the garden. It's an old Victorian terraced property.

Apart from being worried about hitting and damaging the pipes (we don't know as yet where they run under the concrete), we are a little unsure and wary over how to lower the pipes.

Any tips? Thanks loads!

 

[bernardgreen]

If the sewer pipes under your garden carry sewage from other properties then the water company are responsible for the maintenance of those pipes and the manhole where your pipe joins those pipes.

If the pipes are the responsibility of the water company then they may be prepared to modify the manhole height for you free of charge after the ground level has been lowered.

 

[blightymam]

That's very interesting, thanks very much!