Water Stop Cock In Neighbours Garden...

[caterpillar]

Hello all,

Hopefully this is in the right topic area!

My neighbours have just had planning permission for an extension approved however today a pipe burst in their garden. They turned off what they thought to be a stop cock for the pipe which actually happened to be the one for our water supply (and the pipe).

The leakage has been fixed however they are saying that the pipes and stockcock need to be re-routed and laid from the main road into our property which makes complete sense but is obviously going to be very expensive and is not a necessity.

Only thing is the neighbours have recently been given planning permission to build over the stop cock and said pipes. Am I right in thinking that it would be illegal to build over a working stopcock? And that if they wanted to go ahead with the extension that they would be the ones who would have to pay to reroute our pipes?

Any advice would be much appriciated as Im not really sure where we stand.

Many thanks

 

[spraggo]

Check your deeds to see if this problem is covered or, go to Google and type in "shared water supplies" for you answers

 

[netech]

does this pipe feed both houses or just yours? anyway, if it is your pipe you dont have to re locate it but if your neighbour builds over it then you both could end up with trouble. if the pipe leaks in the future then your neighbour will be responsable to fix it unless he likes his new water feature in his house. But if the pipe burst and starved you of water but wasnt causing him concern then you would have to convince him or pay for his recently built extension to be dug up.
i would suggest either relaying the pipe in plastic or re route around his building. if you want pipework to run straight from your house, you will need to relay all your pipework from your poe up to your boundry and then get water board to quote you for a new connection (could be costly)

 

[mysteryman]

One for the solicitors - this should have been spotted before you bought the house.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Maybe worth asking here: www.gardenlaw.co.uk If there is an easement for the water supply across your neighbours land then they may not be able to start insisting it is moved, unless at their expense.....