R
richard7761
Hi. I have a council house, I'm thinking about buying.
My water supply pipe is original (1958). It is copper pipe that is shrouded in a clay pipe about 4" in diameter. It comes in from the public pavement so it comes into the property from the front, runs under the floor, to the internal stop cock.
In about 2003, the council, I think as part of a Decent Housing Standard, renewed the water supply to council houses on the estate. But, they erroneously did not change my supply pipe.
What the council did to renew the supply pipes was to put in a new pipe that went down the gap in between houses and to bring in the water pipe from behind the houses. That way the council was spared excavating inside the houses.
Okay, so I'm still on the old system, the old copper pipe that comes into the front of the house. The stop cock on the public pavement that controls my supply is the original one. All the houses that got new pipes would be on new stop cocks put in below the public pavement.
Since I'm thinking about buying my house, should I insist that the council replace the water supply pipe? Do they have a duty to replace it, and to put the house in the condition of all the other council properties?
I'm thinking that because renewal of the water supply pipe was part of a general scheme, the council are obliged to correct the omission.
We're talking about Kirklees Council.
Thanks.
My water supply pipe is original (1958). It is copper pipe that is shrouded in a clay pipe about 4" in diameter. It comes in from the public pavement so it comes into the property from the front, runs under the floor, to the internal stop cock.
In about 2003, the council, I think as part of a Decent Housing Standard, renewed the water supply to council houses on the estate. But, they erroneously did not change my supply pipe.
What the council did to renew the supply pipes was to put in a new pipe that went down the gap in between houses and to bring in the water pipe from behind the houses. That way the council was spared excavating inside the houses.
Okay, so I'm still on the old system, the old copper pipe that comes into the front of the house. The stop cock on the public pavement that controls my supply is the original one. All the houses that got new pipes would be on new stop cocks put in below the public pavement.
Since I'm thinking about buying my house, should I insist that the council replace the water supply pipe? Do they have a duty to replace it, and to put the house in the condition of all the other council properties?
I'm thinking that because renewal of the water supply pipe was part of a general scheme, the council are obliged to correct the omission.
We're talking about Kirklees Council.
Thanks.