Water Leak in Shared Water Supply

[Guest]

We are in a row of 4 terraced cottages built about 1840, with a shared water supply. There is a leak somewhere, causing lower water pressure, especially in the house furthest from the main connection. The Water Board checked the connection in the road outside and said there is no fault there. They had also dug up the opposite side of the road last year, but they did not investigate that this time. A private water leak inspector is coming tomorrow. My question is about legal liability among the four house owners, especially if the leak is in the boundary of one of the houses. And any other advice you can offer.

[Guest]

Me again. I've registered.

Last bits of my post above should have read: My question is about legal liability among the four house owners, especially if the leak is within the boundary of one of the houses. And any other advice you can offer.

[des8]

Why so sure it's a leak?
If the supply pipe has not been updated it is quite possible that the last house in a row suffers water pressure problems.
The reason is that today we use far more water than those original Victorian supply pipes were designed for.

Regarding liability for renewal/repair of common supply pipes it is usually joint for each property supplied by the pipe.

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply. The problem has only occurred recently, and the Water Board worker said it is probably a leak in the back yard of one of our properties. We may know more today, Saturday, when the private leak investigator give opinion. So if there is a leak we have to share the expense? That is what I imagined...

[des8]

Generally your understanding would be correct.
Suggest you check your deeds (if not already done so) to see if they state anything to the contrary.

[Guest]

Thank you. Will check the deeds. I keep meaning to do so.

[Guest]

The leak detector has found that the leak is in my back yard, under the pipe going to the stopcock.

[des8]

At least you know what it is
Good luck with persuading neighbours to contribute

[Guest]

Strange though, that the Water Board said it was in another neighbour's yard.

[wales01man]

Strange though, that the Water Board said it was in another neighbour's yard.

Only one way to find out Dig a hole

[des8]

that hole in the ground? https://genius.com/Bernard-cribbins-...-ground-lyrics

[Guest]

Very soon that will be done.

[Guest]

The repair is done, probably, and repairer is coming back in a day or two to check and tidy up. Says will see me about the Report. I didn't call him out in the first place, as I didn't know there was a problem . Owners of 2 of the 3 other houses have verbally offered to share the cost, earlier in the week. Would it be best to keep calm and hope they do, rather than get annoyed about having been railroaded? Should everything be billed to me? Aaagh.

[des8]

As they are your neighbours ad presumably you will have to live alongside them for sometime to come a softly softly approach is preferable.

If you didn't instruct the surveyor , nor authorise the repair, you shouldn't be receiving the bill, but as it is a shared supply pipe the costs would normally be shared equally, regardless of whose land the leak was on.

[Guest]

Thank you. I'll remember your advice. : )