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neighbour using our downpipe

Goldengirl

Hi. I have an awkward situation and need some advice .
We have a lot of drainage at our back gutter draining our kitchen roof into a downpipe and drain which doesn't seem able to cope with the amount of water .
The downpuoe is cleaned and has no debris but water pours over onto our patio if there is a big down pour.
A comment from the guy who was landscaping ( he has cut back our neighbour's garden too) that we were draining a lot more than our own roof led me to have a good look at my neighbour's back guttering .
As far as I can see they have no downpipe and are draining their roof into our back drain!
This was not the original layout . All of the houses were originally built with a kitchen extension roof drained like ours via a down pipe into a drain at the back . Semi detached.
They had a conservatory built about 18 years ago and it appears they removed their drain and downpipe at this stage , and have been draining their roof into our drain since . I did notice a lot of drainage before and said it to them , asking if theirs was the same . The answer was no !
They never told us or asked our permission about this .
Should they have? Is it changed now so long they gave a right to use our drain ?
I am angry about it as we have always done everything according to the book, got planning permission, let them know what we were planning when we got our own extension and have ensured that any work we get done does not impinge on them in any way .
However they did get very anxious and shirty with us when the builder was changing our guttering at the extension side which is upstairs.
They are not very friendly and are older than us , but up to this we had been on pleasant terms .
Now we have an overflowing gutter on to a new patio and I don't know what I can do.
I am worried if we try to broach it with them it may make relations worse, but at the same time feel we have been taken advantage of .
I would like to know the rights and wrongs before we speak to them , or if we should just leave well enough alone ?

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Goldengirl

BryanF wrote: »

OP
This is a civil mater.
See if you can sort this amicably with your neighbour

Otherwise seek legal advice.

Btw, did it dawn on the patio installer to add a drain? Is it possible to install a drain line at this stage?

No we have a drain and a properly fitted gulley drain in the patio. We also cleared all of the gutters and down pipes last month
The overflow is when there is a big down pour and it is from the gutter hitting the ground like a shower onto the now paved area.
Loads of water going down the drainpipe and draining away as well , no problem.
He was the one who told us what our neighbours had done , or hinted at it .

When you say a civil matter do you mean there is no regulation that they have breached that we can report , but that we may have to take them to court ?
I don't think I could do that .

Goldengirl

elperello wrote: »

You would be best advised not to do that.

The backed up water could damage their property making the situation between you even worse.

It might even damage your property.

Yes I don't think I have the face to do that . Although they didn't think of us when they did what they did.

Goldengirl

One last question ...if we do say it to them would the option be that they redo their side and reinstate their drain...
Or we will separate our gutters from theirs , permanently?
Would this be allowed ?

fritzelly

Goldengirl wrote: »

One last question ...if we do say it to them would the option be that they redo their side and reinstate their drain...
Or we will separate our gutters from theirs , permanently?
Would this be allowed ?

Check your deeds

Del Boy

Goldengirl wrote: »

One last question ...if we do say it to them would the option be that they redo their side and reinstate their drain...
Or we will separate our gutters from theirs , permanently?
Would this be allowed ?

You said originally that each property had a down pipe. When they extended theirs was removed and builder put their drainage into your downpipe.

Get it back to original situation.

Just blame recent storms. Your drain is overflowing.....bla bla bla.

Blame the builder. Just say to the neighbours that perhaps they weren't aware the builder did this.

Ask nicely....please remedy it. Our system isn't coping. Ask it done before winter.

End of story. Otherwise just live with it.

Gumbo

fritzelly wrote: »

Check your deeds

Deeds won’t show this information.

the_pen_turner

There is definitely something wrong if a 3 inch pipe cant take the water. It's only 2 town houses.
My uncle has a 7 span shed 36foot sheeting each side and 2 4 inch pipes on each side. They have no problem taking the water. .

Goldengirl

Del Boy wrote: »

You said originally that each property had a down pipe. When they extended theirs was removed and builder put their drainage into your downpipe.

Get it back to original situation.

Just blame recent storms. Your drain is overflowing.....bla bla bla.

Blame the builder. Just say to the neighbours that perhaps they weren't aware the builder did this.

Ask nicely....please remedy it. Our system isn't coping. Ask it done before winter.

End of story. Otherwise just live with it.

So we don't have a right to have it reinstated? Or do you say this is what we should do to ease the situation?

Goldengirl

the_pen_turner wrote: »

There is definitely something wrong if a 3 inch pipe cant take the water. It's only 2 town houses.
My uncle has a 7 span shed 36foot sheeting each side and 2 4 inch pipes on each side. They have no problem taking the water. .

This would be draining around 19 foot of roof into our drain , where before there were 2 drains .
I get the impression that some of you think we should alter our gutters and our drain to accomodate their drainage .
We may very well end up doing that for the sake of peace .
But if this comes back to bite us in the future, as in selling or if they extend , and the run of guttering is longer draining into ours , I just want to know where we stand .

sydthebeat

does the neighbour have a stormwater gully in their path doing nothing??

Seth Brundle

Have you a picture of the drain pipe and where it meets the drain?
My semi-d property has the drain pipe (standard pipe @ 65mm diameter) for ours and our neighbours house and it manages absolutely fine.

Goldengirl

sydthebeat wrote: »

does the neighbour have a stormwater gully in their path doing nothing??

No .
They put that imprinted concrete right up the whole back and front , no drains or gulleys .

Edit. Think they have the actual original drain inside their conservatory, but not sure as a mat there .

Goldengirl

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Have you a picture of the drain pipe and where it meets the drain?
My semi-d property has the drain pipe (standard pipe @ 65mm diameter) for ours and our neighbours house and it manages absolutely fine.

The problem is the water overshooting from the top.
Drain and drainpipe is working .
I have pics and videos but am brutal at putting things up !

Del Boy

Goldengirl wrote: »

So we don't have a right to have it reinstated? Or do you say this is what we should do to ease the situation?

Get it put back to original set up.

Tell them to sort out their drainage for their house.

If water is overflowing from gutter then they probably need cleaning.

The neighbours were taking the pi** 18 years ago to remove their downpipe and let their drainage water flow into your side/system.

Ask them to sort it out and reinstall a downpipe for their house.

Goldengirl

Del Boy wrote: »

Get it put back to original set up.

Tell them to sort out their drainage for their house.

If water is overflowing from gutter then they probably need cleaning.

The neighbours were taking the pi** 18 years ago to remove their downpipe and let their drainage water flow into your side/system.

Ask them to sort it out and reinstall a downpipe for their house.

Thanks .
I think we will have to think where we go from her alright.
I don't think leaving it is going to be an option and we don't want to be paying for remedial work now or in the future .
Just going to have to pluck up courage now so wish me luck !

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply .

maestroamado

Goldengirl wrote: »

The problem is the water overshooting from the top.
Drain and drainpipe is working .
I have pics and videos but am brutal at putting things up !

Its a minor problem and likely nothing to do with neighbor changes, though he should not have done without your permission its not important enough to fall-out about.
These gutters are 100mm/4in +. The bottom of the slates needs be around the centre of this so the water goes into gutter, if it farther out the force of the water will cause to spill over the top.
You will get a good idea by looking up at the end at what point the water enters gully, if you cannot see need a ladder.

You will likely need a gutter guy to repair, when were the gutters cleaned as this could also cause this problem.

housetypeb

Tell your neighbor that you're dealing with the water from your own roof overflowing, thinking of putting in a new gutter slightly higher than original to catch any overshoot and putting a stopper where the boundary line is.
That may stir him to deal with his problem of what to do with the water off of his roof then.

kevgaa

Hi OP,

I think you need to be very careful in this situation. I appreciate you are frustrated but have you checked the set-up on neighbouring houses?

In my estate there is only one down pipe at the back of each of our houses for each pair of semi detached houses. Each house has the drain in the ground but the builders only installed one down pipe so you may be blaming your neighbour for removing something that never existed.

[Deleted User]

Why would a conservatory mean removing and reinstalling a gutter on the roof? What's the advantage in what being alledged here? Seems like more work as the drains angle would need to have been realigned.

Op, please just walk outside with your phone and take a picture

the_pen_turner

Goldengirl wrote: »

This would be draining around 19 foot of roof into our drain , where before there were 2 drains .
I get the impression that some of you think we should alter our gutters and our drain to accomodate their drainage .
We may very well end up doing that for the sake of peace .
But if this comes back to bite us in the future, as in selling or if they extend , and the run of guttering is longer draining into ours , I just want to know where we stand .

I dont think you should have to alter the drains to suit them . Let them manage their own water. You may have to do that to keep the peace.

My point is that a 3 inch down pipe should take the water. Assuming the roof is 20foot long and 20 foot wide that's 400 sq feet. Same for your roof makes it 800 sq feet.
My uncle is putting 4000 sq feet into 2 4 inch pipes handily. You have other issues with the guttering potentially

the_pen_turner

I think you issue will be a rotten fascia allowing gutter to dip , broken brackets, or crap in the swan neck or offset bends.

listermint

Goldengirl wrote: »

This would be draining around 19 foot of roof into our drain , where before there were 2 drains .
I get the impression that some of you think we should alter our gutters and our drain to accomodate their drainage .
We may very well end up doing that for the sake of peace .
But if this comes back to bite us in the future, as in selling or if they extend , and the run of guttering is longer draining into ours , I just want to know where we stand .

I've 60 foot of roof draining into a single pipe. There isn't any overflow off the gutters feeding it nor an over flow out of the drain to be seen. Even whens it pissing down. I keep it all clean.

You either have dirt in the gutters. Dirt in the downpipe or dirt in the drain.

All 3 should be checked properly. And gutters should be cleaned regularly make sure the neighbors clean there's two.

There should be absolutely no issue whatsoever with 19foot of roof going to 1 pipe. Just none. You have a problem with the setup and it's not the lack of two down pipes. What you could do is knock in next door and just cause unnecessary messing. It's been this way near twenty years. And no it won't impact you selling your house. Don't mind that internet waffle.

Goldengirl

listermint wrote: »

I've 60 foot of roof draining into a single pipe. There isn't any overflow off the gutters feeding it nor an over flow out of the drain to be seen. Even whens it pissing down. I keep it all clean.

You either have dirt in the gutters. Dirt in the downpipe or dirt in the drain.

All 3 should be checked properly. And gutters should be cleaned regularly make sure the neighbors clean there's two.

There should be absolutely no issue whatsoever with 19foot of roof going to 1 pipe. Just none. You have a problem with the setup and it's not the lack of two down pipes. What you could do is knock in next door and just cause unnecessary messing. It's been this way near twenty years. And no it won't impact you selling your house. Don't mind that internet waffle.

Thanks .
We don't want any trouble if we can avoid as these people are not amenable .
Gutters, downpipe and drains all cleaned a month ago , and again checked yesterday . Flow and fall checked by the same person as we thought that was the issue originally . Didn't know about the removal of their downpipe till after that . Also they don't clear their gutters only every few years so don't know if theirs is blocked . They are not the type of people that you can say " hey let's get the gutters cleaned " to . I know I would be told " yes no problem , you pay for it " !
That is all I wanted to know that it would not impact on our house but if it continues at the present rate it will damage our fascia and paving .

To the poster that wondered about their conservatory, they built it out past the line of the house and over where the drain was sited , so if they still have a drain it is covered and inside their conservatory, but no down pipe. I have also said in another post that , at that time or afterwards , they redid all their gutters so could have veered the back gutter to drain into ours at that time .
They also complained when we changed our gutters last year that our upstairs was sitting in theirs but as our flow was directed towards our gutter from the top it hasn't caused any issue and so that drama settled . But they said they were very worried that we would do the same with our lower gutter , but I assured them that wasn't being changed. Now I know why they were so worried but of course they couldn't say it

the_pen_turner

Goldengirl wrote: »

Thanks .
We don't want any trouble if we can avoid as these people are not amenable .
Gutters, downpipe and drains all cleaned a month ago , and again checked yesterday . Flow and fall checked by the same person as we thought that was the issue originally . Didn't know about the removal of their downpipe till after that . Also they don't clear their gutters only every few years so don't know if theirs is blocked . They are not the type of people that you can say " hey let's get the gutters cleaned " to . I know I would be told " yes no problem , you pay for it " !
That is all I wanted to know that it would not impact on our house but if it continues at the present rate it will damage our fascia and paving .

To the poster that wondered about their conservatory, they built it out past the line of the house and over where the drain was sited , so if they still have a drain it is covered and inside their conservatory, but no down pipe. I have also said in another post that , at that time or afterwards , they redid all their gutters so could have veered the back gutter to drain into ours at that time .
They also complained when we changed our gutters last year that our upstairs was sitting in theirs but as our flow was directed towards our gutter from the top it hasn't caused any issue and so that drama settled . But they said they were very worried that we would do the same with our lower gutter , but I assured them that wasn't being changed. Now I know why they were so worried but of course they couldn't say it

i think we need to see pics

Goldengirl

the_pen_turner wrote: »

i think we need to see pics

Thanks , but no .
Will live with this until we can't but don't want to be putting identifying pics up .
It would make a bad situation worse .

the_pen_turner

Goldengirl wrote: »

Thanks , but no .
Will live with this until we can't but don't want to be putting identifying pics up .
It would make a bad situation worse .

fair enough i wouldnt either. how about a close up of the gutter, join, and a sketch of the lay out

listermint

Goldengirl wrote: »

Thanks , but no .
Will live with this until we can't but don't want to be putting identifying pics up .
It would make a bad situation worse .

If theres water dripping out the top then the joins are done poorly if the waters dripping out the bottom then the drain really isn't clean.

And dripping is a poor install or a blocked gutter. I know you said someone checked it but not all someones are good at their job . Just to split hairs.

Dublinstiofán

Get one of these (100L/250L) and use the extra water to water the plants or wash the car. If it’s gone on for this long no point making an issue out of it.

Melted

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

Get one of these (100L/250L) and use the extra water to water the plants or wash the car. If it’s gone on for this long no point making an issue out of it.

I am actually looking for something like this to solve an unrelated issue I am having, can you tell me the name of this contraption so I can research it?

Thanks!

elperello

It's a water butt.

Try Woodies or any local hardware.