I have discovered that the house I live in has a manhole in the living room - the living room is in an extension that was built at a different stage to when the house was built.
Now, do you know if this means the house is not fit for rental and should therefore have never been rented out? If so, can I sue the landlord and get my money back? I've been in the house for 4 years, but only found out recently when a neighbour renovating his house asked me if he could have access to the manhole in my living room to unblock the drain.
what do you suggest I do? I'm renting with foxtons, in clapham
2006-12-15 05:10:09 · 14 answers · asked by pillat 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Sure, you can sue. But why? Didn't you live in the place? I don't get people wanting sue for everything under the sun. Maybe your landlord forgot about the manhole. Get over it and get on with your life.
2006-12-15 05:24:17 · answer #1 · answered by Tater 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something like this should have been mentioned to you when you first moved in, and should be in your Tenancy Agreement.
Of course, your landlord may not have told Foxton's. If there is a security issue here (can your neighbour get into your house through the manhole ?) you should complain heartily. A rebate going back the whole 4 years seems reasonable to me. Even if no security issue, there's the loss of privacy/inconvenience. Possibly planning laws have been broken. Either way, if you're happy living there, you have a good case for a rent reduction.
2006-12-16 20:53:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Manhole covers are permitted inside the house if they are of the sealed type.
If the drain is taking neighbours sewage, the manhole should have been positioned outside the extension.
Rodding the drain from inside the house would create all sorts of problems. I would resist.
You have not suffered a loss and therefore you cannot sue under English Law.
2006-12-18 05:33:00 · answer #3 · answered by BRIAN S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some years back i built a conservatory that was to be part of the living area of our house. The building inspector allowed me to cover a main sewage manhole on condition that the cover was gas leek sealed. If yours is then i wouldn't think you have a problem. Check with your local council planning office
2006-12-15 05:32:41 · answer #4 · answered by burgin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typcially, if you are going to build over a manhole, you have to get permission from whoever it belongs to. Also, remember that not all manholes lead to sewer systems, some companies bury telecommunications equipment and fiber-optic cable which can't be suspended. So, I would guess that the owner of the property had permission to build over it, and that it is either unusued or virtually unused.
2006-12-15 05:27:04 · answer #5 · answered by wax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is not any project here, the very incontrovertible fact which you have been there years and did no longer even understand you had an inspection chamber there is going to tutor how nicely the ingredient became put in. For inner use, it desires to be an hermetic conceal, to avert any gases (methane) starting to be up from the drains into the abode. in many situations it relatively is going to say AIR TIGHT on it, and be screwed down and have a rubber seal. As you haven't any longer reported any smells i anticipate it particularly is doing it relatively is activity. enable your neighbour use the acces element, that's what it particularly is there for, and your sewage additionally is going down the comparable path. Any harm on your carpets etc desires to be claimed by way of YOUR contents assurance in case you have any. The prepare of putting covers into extensions is easily criminal and wide-spread, and the community authority ought to have authorized and inspected it, i will assure you. it is not particularly ordinary to circulate a sewer run so as that it is going around the outdoors of the valuables. and that i do no longer see the place the project is, your landlord has no longer executed something incorrect, verify the conceal is equipped back securely and it particularly is hermetic. merry yuletide
2016-10-15 00:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is not afecting you in any way, don't sue, this is a costly lose-lose process.
Now, on the other hand, if it is afecting you, why is it that you didn't notice in 4 years, so my advise here is, again, don't sue. now on the other hand (not the first other, but the other other) if it really bothers you, move to another house and problem solved.
Sadly we live in a country where suing is a big business, but mainly for lawyers. I can almost promise you that if you sue, you will lose a lot of money, that on top of your integrity, because it is going to bring a lot of bad emotions and feelings out of you. Please, don't sue and keep your integrity intact.
2006-12-15 05:29:52 · answer #7 · answered by skydiver 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Internal manhole covers are very common especially in extensions. As long as they are of the sealed type so no stench can escape then they are legal I am sorry to tell you.
2006-12-15 05:15:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would ask how the neighbour knew there was a man hole, when you did not.
Also you need to know why there is a man hole in the floor, what it is covering and where it leads to, before allowing someone into the property.
whatother property backs onto yours? A bank?
Is the neighbour genuine?
2006-12-16 01:43:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Where does it lead. There are lots of private manholes and they usually lead to a well or septic system.
2006-12-15 05:16:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋