blocked sewers advice please

[zoom star]

I live at number 3 at number 7 is sewer pipe blockage.
Number 7 is totally on board and allows access.
Houses 1 - 15 are sloping down hill from number 1
Thus blockage is causing sewerage to back up to 5 3 and 1
Water board been out and need access to blockage from number 9 who is not interested in helping, claims he has machinery on manhole cover which he does not want to move because of it getting wet.
Any idea what options are in this matter,can he be forced to comply, or have we got to wait till we are waist deep in st,and sue for damages, sue who ?
We are dealing with Welsh Water, who to be fair have come out 5 times already.
Any advice anyone on this..

[Laurel Green]

Shovel any seepage through number nines letterbox.

[evilmunkey]

Phone your local council in the first instance, If the Neighbor is causing a potential hazard due to his or her actions , the local Environment and Enforcement officer can serve a notice to allow access even on private property. I have a mate at Leeds City Council who told me this when we had a similar issue. Could also be reported as neighbor nuisance too. I do wonder why folk get like this though. surely they don't want to be knee deep in ste.

[tangerine_sedge]

zoom star said:

I live at number 3 at number 7 is sewer pipe blockage.
Number 7 is totally on board and allows access.
Houses 1 - 15 are sloping down hill from number 1
Thus blockage is causing sewerage to back up to 5 3 and 1
Water board been out and need access to blockage from number 9 who is not interested in helping, claims he has machinery on manhole cover which he does not want to move because of it getting wet.
Any idea what options are in this matter,can he be forced to comply, or have we got to wait till we are waist deep in st,and sue for damages, sue who ?
We are dealing with Welsh Water, who to be fair have come out 5 times already.
Any advice anyone on this..

I had a similar problem some years ago, and because the blocked sewer was on my property I paid to have it jet-cleaned. It's possible that it is his responsibility to fix, but as another poster wrote above, talk to the local council/water board to see what your options are...

[Tom_C76]

Under the changes to he water act all sewers serving more than one property are adopted. This means that the water co have responsibility and also right of access to repair. Ask the water co to get it sorted.

[Hoofy]

Number 9 going to house a house full of Number 2s if he is downhill from you.

[V8RX7]

Whilst the service companies have rights to many things they don't tend to like annoying people if they can avoid it.

Hence you need to annoy them, more than they don't want to annoy him.

Surely the easy way is to gather a few neighbours up and approach No9 directly.

[zoom star]

Thanks for replies,I have taken on your suggestions.
Last time we had a sewer problem,it was our responsibility,but, as stated all sewerage is now down to local water board,not us privately.
Talked to utility, and they are looking into it,as stated above they have taken responsibility,and as I am told by utilities person,even though it is on private land, the man hole and sewer is their asset,and have set rights to access it, if number 9 is not compliant,THEY not ME will serve a notice.
Thank you for your replies, hope this information helps someone else one day.

[guitarcarfanatic]

Just phone Environmental Health team at the council. They will issue a section 59 if needed.

But yes, this is totally the WB's responsibility.

Thanks,

Rob

[Davel]

I would have thought that the manhole, upon which he has placed machinery etc., has to be kept clear for access to the Water Authority drain.

Surely they can insist on access to the manhole - especially one servicing several properties.

Speak to both the Water Authority and local Environmental Health Department.