Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

[Stevecon99]

Can the water authority hold me liable because a builder we had working for us, damaged a sewage pipe, that the water authority was responsible for and later repaired.

Or should they instead hold the builder liable and try to retrieve theirs costs from him or his insurance.


Thanks

[judgemental24]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

To be honest and in my opinion i would say yes, you will be liable

The builder has been contracted by you so you are ultimately respnsible for his actions

It will be then down to you to claim against the builder for negligence

You need to let your insurance company deal with this

[nemesis45]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Can the water authority hold me liable because a builder we had working for us, damaged a sewage pipe, that the water authority was responsible for and later repaired.

Or should they instead hold the builder liable and try to retrieve theirs costs from him or his insurance.


Thanks

Is the water company actually pursing payment for this, it would usually be on the grounds that
the builder was your agent and you are responsible for their actions.

nem

[Stevecon99]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Is the water company actually pursing payment for this, it would usually be on the grounds that
the builder was your agent and you are responsible for their actions.

nem

Thanks for the comments.

Originally the water authority said it was the builder they would pursue for costs, but now we've been told they hold us liable. They are checking the cost and will let us know if it's high enough to pursue us.

Our builders position is that he did nothing wrong.

[judgemental24]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Does not matter as he was directl;y responsible under your instructon to carry out the work

You need to contact your insurance company, they will claim of his own public liability insurance as a trader

[nemesis45]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Thanks for the comments.

Originally the water authority said it was the builder they would pursue for costs, but now we've been told they hold us liable. They are checking the cost and will let us know if it's high enough to pursue us.

Our builders position is that he did nothing wrong.

I think morally the builder should compensate you for at least
some of the costs if it ends up with you having to pay.
Was the sewer pipe running under your property, were you
aware it was there?

nem

[Stevecon99]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

I think morally the builder should compensate you for at least
some of the costs if it ends up with you having to pay.
Was the sewer pipe running under your property, were you
aware it was there?

nem

The pipe was running under our land ( but the water authority are responsible for it), neither us or our builder knew it was running where it was. The builder told the water authority that he had not damage it, so it may be difficult to get him to take responsibility.

[judgemental24]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Do not try and handle this yourself

Contact your building insurers, that is what you pay them for

[Stevecon99]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Good point!

[des8]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Speaking generally (not having seen your policy wordings):
You should contact your building insurers if the pipe work serviced your property as it is accidental damage, or your contents insurers if the pipe work
does not service your property and is the utility companies responsibility as your claim will fall under the liability section.
Hopefully your buildings and contents are insured under the same policy and you won't have a problem.

Before anyone refers me to the liability section of the buildings policy, I would point out that generally covers the owner's liability, not the occupier's.
The occupier's liability is usually an extension of contents policy.

[Stevecon99]

Re: Our builder damaged a water authority sewer pipe

Thanks for the details. I don't relish the idea of trying to get money back from the builder, so the idea of getting the insurance company to handle it all sounds like a good solution.