Brian wrote in message
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"Hugo Nebula" abuse@localhost wrote in message
...
On Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:08:32 GMT, a particular chimpanzee named ChrisJ
randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

Am I right in assuming that given what I have described in the last
paragraph the blockage is likely to be down-stream of the inspection
pit? If so, who is responsible, me or the council? (1970's house by
the way).

Hasn't been 'the Council' for many a year. If the blockage is in the
public sewer, it's the responsibility of your sewerage company
(usually, but not always, your water company). If it's in your drain
serving just your property, it's entirely your responsibility. This
is not necessarily up to your boundary. The tricky bit comes if it's
a private sewer; draining more than one property, but not adopted.
Theoretically, if the blockage is in the private sewer, you should
recoup the costs from all those 'upstream' of the blockage. Good
luck.
--
Hugo Nebula

Wrong! It depend on how old the drains are. If they are more than a
certain age then the local council WILL cover the cost even on private
property. My neighbours have just saved thousands thanks to checking
first
and not listening to rumours or people that think they are correct.

Also wrong. Non shared drains are always the responsibility of the homeowner
to the point at which they meet the public sewer. Shared drains, which are
properly called private sewers, are the complex bit.

Shared drains built prior to the implementation of the Public Health Act on
1st October 1937 are the responsibility of the local water company. Nothing
whatsoever to do with the local council. Each house is still solely
responsible for the part of its own drain prior to it joining someone else's
drain and becoming a private sewer.

Shared drains built post 1st October 1937 are the joint responsibility of
the various homeowners unless the water company has 'adopted' them. It
doesn't matter where in the shared system the blockage occurs. Everyone
connected pays their share. Again each house is solely responsible for the
part of its own drain prior to it joining the private sewer.

Sadly I didn't know any of this several years ago in connection with my own
1926 house when the daft bitch next door blocked the joint part under my
land not just once but three times by flushing tampons and baby nappies down
the loo and leaving me to pay for it. Grrrrr. I could have just got the
water company in if I'd known.

BTW - I concur with previous advice never to use a dynorod type company or
plumber. The local council usually offer a cheap fixed price service.
--
Dave Baker