House built over public sewer- to buy or not?

[sam1264]

Hi, just wanting a bit of advice from anybody who has had experience of this. I'm in process of buying a semi-bungalow. My Solicitor said all searches have comeback clear and I can sign whenever now, so went to sign on Monday. He showed me various bits of paperwork, one of them with sewers on. He pointed out where my drains connected with neighbours etc (Con29DW report), and then carried on with something else. I noticed my property also had another green line running diagonally underneath the actual building of bungalow, running from far above on map, running through other gardens, under my bungalow and next doors, before running out into road where it connects with 2 other green lines. My drains do not connect into it at all. I asked him to explain, he didn't seem concerned about it at all but I am!

It is pointed out on the schedule as something purchaser may wish to make further investigations about as it is a public sewer. So I said I wanted to find out a bit more about it before proceeding.

I have managed to find out from company who have done report that it is 150mm pipe running 2.5 meters underground. It was laid the same year as when my bungalow was built 1972, although we don't know what material it is made of pot or plastic.

I can also see that a cul-de-sac of 7 new houses at the rear of my bungalow have been joined into it since it was laid (maybe in last 15 years) including the surface water (blue line on map) from that cul-de-sac aswel as foul.

What are people's opinions on this? Should I be concerned or not? I do worry that with all this extra house building going on, if more properties/developments join this sewer it may/could cause future problems.

I'm not planning on any extension, although considering my bungalow is already built over the top of it, I can't see what problem that would cause if I did.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ian H]

It’s a small pipe and not very deep. I’d rather have a 600mm pipe, 4mtrs deep.

Does is say 150mm VC or anything? It’s probably clay but could be something like pitch fibre. Either way i’d want a CCTV to see its condition.

 

[sam1264]

Thanks for reply. No I'm making further enquiries into what it's made of, so just have to wait few days. No it doesn't seem very big at all, making me concerned it could more easily get blocked or overloaded the more houses the water company may join to it. The nearest access point that I can see is where it joins other 2 pipes in middle of road, few houses away.

 

[Notch7]

Thanks for reply. No I'm making further enquiries into what it's made of, so just have to wait few days. No it doesn't seem very big at all, making me concerned it could more easily get blocked or overloaded the more houses the water company may join to it. The nearest access point that I can see is where it joins other 2 pipes in middle of road, few houses away.

If it blocks your water company will sort it out.

I think your biggest concern would be if you ever wanted an extension. Dont forget a build over agreement is needed if within 3 metres.

 

[sam1264]

If it blocks your water company will sort it out.

I think your biggest concern would be if you ever wanted an extension. Dont forget a build over agreement is needed if within 3 metres.

Thanks for reply.
I'm not planning on an extension but if I did, why would I need a build over agreement if the house has already been built over it? If it was good enough for the house to be built over it, then surely an extension would automatically be okay?

 

[Notch7]

Thanks for reply.
I'm not planning on an extension but if I did, why would I need a build over agreement if the house has already been built over it? If it was good enough for the house to be built over it, then surely an extension would automatically be okay?

Because a build over agreement really means a build near agreement.

If you build within 3 metres of a sewer you need to have a build over agreement. That could even mean in next doors garden.

 

[^woody^]

Never rely on drain layout plans unless they are confirmed accurate. The actual pipes could be metres away.

But the bottom line, if your want it, just buy it. It's not a problem.

 

[sam1264]

I've just found out the public sewer is made from vitrified clay 150mm.

But also found out the drains for the bungalow are 100mm pitch fibre.

Still not sure what to do!

 

[Ian H]

Pitch fibre = Swollen, lumpy, asbestos.

Knock the price down to get that replaced.

 

[^woody^]

Yeah, the hundreds of thousands of properties with pitch pipes and sewers running close to them are not worth buying and those hundreds of thousands of current owners are living on knife edges.

Of all the things that can go wrong with a property, there are far many other things which are more likely and more costly. Think about that.

 

[Ian H]

I said knock the price down not **** it and run. I see pitch fibre that’s why I mention it.

 

[Notch7]

Pitch fibre = Swollen, lumpy

What Ian doesnt know about swollen lumpy pitch fibre isnt worth knowing

 

[Ian H]

What Ian doesnt know about swollen lumpy pitch fibre isnt worth knowing

I know i’m not allowed to cut it anymore, we have to dig it out then get a firm in to remove it. Shame, I used to like the smell of the grinder burning through it !!

 

[HERTS P&D]

What Ian doesn't know about swollen lumpy pitch fibre isn't worth knowing

I'm sure Ian wakes up every morning with a 'swollen lump'

Andy

 

[Ian H]

I'm sure Ian wakes up every morning with a 'swollen lump'

Andy

I do but with plenty of practice I can beat it back down it a few minutes