Housing Association property guttering

[Okeydokey]

I rent a house from a housing association. The man next door asked me if he could divert his guttering through a Y section into my downpipe, I said no as my garden was already flooding with the water load from my own roof.
A few weeks later a van turned up, asked for access to the rear of the property because they were cleaning the gutters for the housing association. I went to work when I came back the Y piece had been installed, and there were still small trees growing out of the guttering at the front.
So... I gather trespass is a civil action, deception must be a criminal act? Does the work carrried out without my consent constitute criminal damage?
The housing association have told me that the man involved is not on the tenancy agreement. There were no works orders raised by them to clear any gutters on the estate. The higher property in the photo is the neighbours.
The housing association are very very slow to respond and this is really irritating me. They are at this point stuck with their heads in the sand and the neighbour who is a bit of a bully is jearing at me, which is annoying.

[ostell]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

You do not own the property therefore the housing association have to take any action. Sadly.

Pair of ladders, remove the downpipe from next door and point it over his property?

[Kati]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

Pair of ladders, remove the downpipe from next door and point it over his property?

I'd be tempted to do this myself :lol:

[Okeydokey]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

I'd be tempted to do this myself :lol:

I was thinking of just capping his pipe off on my side, or... putting another Y section below his Y section and pointing it towards his garden, then blocking my downpipe. This has the potential to be quite fun, thanks guys!

[Kati]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

I was thinking of just capping his pipe off on my side, or... putting another Y section below his Y section and pointing it towards his garden, then blocking my downpipe. This has the potential to be quite fun, thanks guys!

And maybe 'transplant' the saplings?

[wales01man]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

when it rains where does the rainwater go?

[Okeydokey]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

It now pours down as a sheet of water in front of my double doors into the garden. The volume is too great for my gutter to handle. The ground then pools it until it overflows and travels in a river across the lawn and in the other neibours garden on the opposite side. The occupant there is a single mum with 4, incl one newly born, very vulnerable.
The gutter next to the neighbour who diverted it has a down pipe which is not connected, so I get the water from both into mine, then when my rice paddy is full, the river Stour has a new tributary :S

[Kati]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

or .... maybe a hole/crack appears just before the neighbours' guttering joins your downpipe? The water wouldn't reach yours then

[des8]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

Surely this is trespass against the OP?
I'm positive you cannot divert rainwater to flow down your neighbours guttering or down pipes.
The extra water flowing over OP's rented property is a trespass.
The person in possession of the land is the one to bring a civil claim against the trespasser, and the claim can be brought without proving any damage.

[wales01man]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

Think a call to the HA before talk of legal claims

[Okeydokey]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

I have spoken and emailed the local housing association office that deals with the Dorset area. Due to the lack of response I have contacted their head office asking for an update... nothing heard, I guess they must be busy this time of year with annual leave, Wimbledon and wot-not!

[wales01man]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

Elevate it to a formal complaint to the HA its down to them to sort this

[des8]

Re: Housing Association property guttering

If your neighbour is also an HA tenant you might not find they are overly worried.
As I see it, if the work was done without authority of HA there is possibly a case of criminal damage to the down pipes, and a claim by the owner (HA) for that damage.
There is also the possibility of a civil claim by OP for trespass (as suggested above) in which he might be joined as claimant by the other affected person (the single mum)
He MIGHT also have a claim of trespass against the man who has not connected his downpipe to his guttering so the water is discharged on to OP's ground.

I certainly wouldn't endorse any tongue in cheek suggestions of damaging or redirecting the existing systems.