Mains water pipe under extension

[jonesey99]

Hi looking for some advice please. We re currently selling our house and the drainage search done by the conveyancer has brought up an issue. Apparently we have a mains water pipe running under our extension at the back of the house. We had the extension built 20 years ago and got full planning and have all the building regs and completion certificate. We live in a row of 20+ 1830’s semis and the pipe runs along the backs of the houses in all of the gardens. 90% of the houses have an extension or
conservatory in the same place as ours. Out next Door neighbours joined on only bought their house last year. Their drainage search showed the same issue but was not a concern to their solicitor. Similarly a house a few doors down sold in September with no issues.

Our buyers solicitor is advising them not to buy the house and if they proceed wants them to sign a disclaimer. ? Any advice please?

[des8]

Buy them an indemnity policy!
Solicitor should know

[jonesey99]

If only it was that easy! Their solicitor is saying you can’t buy indemnity for mains water only sewers!

[des8]

Probably correct if you go to standard sources, but I bet their is at least one underwriter at Lloyds who would take a punt if the broker lunched him well enough!
However that's no use to you.

I suppose the mains water does actually pass under your property.

At the end of the day you aren't going to move the mains, so it will be upto your purchasers to decide whether or not to proceed with the purchase.
Sorry, but not much help