Still in the middle of buying a house in HOP (Grierson Road area) and it has come up that a public foul water sewer runs under the house, there is a drain at front and back. Is this common? I guess the drains have to come over to the street at some point in terraced rows but it does make me very nervous. Don't want to be lumbered with subsidence or flooding in future.

Dave.

Very common in this area - 3 hours per shared sewer IIRC in the streets off Grierson.

Since October 2011 the shared part is owned and maintained by Thames Water under recent changes. See http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xch...l/8654.htm for more.

In our house there is an access cover in the back garden. I guess there's a risk of a pipe burst under your house but no more so than if it was your own sewer. House across the road had a blockage in the shared section and Thames Water came and fixed in no time.

If there's a fault/flood in the shared section then it's clear from the new law that Thames Water would be liable - doesn't help if you get flooded but at least you don't need to argue responsibility with neighbours.

HTH

Hi do you mean rainwater and storm water drainage rather than a sewer? I dont think toilet sewers ever ran under a house but the pipes that drain front of gardens can- the one serving our house runs under our neighbours house and connects to the main sewer running along all of our back gardens. Ours are 1930s houses but the mains sewer at the back started off with the Victorian houses further up and the developer of our row of houses connected into that existing sewer. its pretty normal I think but you might want your surveyor to have a look at the condition of the pipe.

Apparently it is a foul sewer. But several people have said it is quite common. But will do as you say and get the pipe checked just to make sure nothing to worry about.

Dave.

I worked for Lewisham drainage section many years ago. According to the drainage book shared (or combined) drains were very common.

Hi

I realise you posted this a while ago but we are in the same situation and in the process of buying a house in the same area and the mains sewer goes directly under the house from the road and ends up with a manhole cover in the garden.

I wondered if you went ahead with the purchase and if there were any issues?

Thanks

Although its the responsibility of the Water Company it could cause you some problems if it has to be dug up at any time. I had a similar situation when I bought my house and the Solicitor arranged a one of insurance for life against this. Cost me about £100 if I recall.

That's useful to know. The issue that the solicitor has raised is that the mortgage lender might be off put by this and even if they aren't, other mortgage lender could be which could be a tricky when we come to re-mortgage or sell. Have you have any problems with this?

Thanks

Fortunately not. My Solicitor at the time seemed to know all about these things and arranged the insurance as part of the buying process.

Thanks, we'll see what the mortgage lender says and I'll look into the insurance as well.