I bought a new build house back in June (George Wimpey). There is still work going on around the place and the county council has yet to adopt the roads/pavements and put a decent surface on them. I had a hand written note pushed through my door today, from the Wimpey site manager, saying that the council won't adopt manholes not on private land and that they are going to move a manhole from the pavement, in 2 days time, into my front garden. Can they do this? Is it worth seeking proper counsel, or is it in my best interests to just let them do it?

im no expert but if it wasnt on the plans in the first place then i wouldnt have thought they could, is it front or back garden???

you have purchased the property as youve seen it, with no manhole cover, so its their fook up, why should you have to suffer for it ?. i would tell them no and seek legal advice. NOBODY can legally just come on your property and start digging without permission, end of.

I'd get legal advise about the moving of the manhole as you could end up in the shite :shock:

you have purchased the property as youve seen it, with no manhole cover, so its their fook up, why should you have to suffer for it ?. i would tell them no and seek legal advice. NOBODY can legally just come on your property and start digging without permission, end of.

a mole can :nelson: :rofl:

i agree, they are hoping you will just let them do it, to be honest id seek proper advice, i should imagine tha the only person with a right to do anything to your land would be the crown

a mole can :nelson: :rofl:

 

 

:rofl: :slap: jasper carrot comes to mind :rofl: but can one fit a manhole in your garden ? :D

im no expert but if it wasnt on the plans in the first place then i wouldnt have thought they could, is it front or back garden???

 

Front garden - they want to move it about 8ft, from the pavement onto the inner edge of my garden.

 

You wrote exactly what I thought - especially without seeking my permission first, otherwise it's trespass, isn't it? I wonder if I can screw any money out of them?

doubt you could get any money (unless they have done it already), i would go and see the site manager and contest the plans, tell them you didnt see it in the plans and that you will seek legal advice if they go on any further

 

also if there is a blockage in the drains and it turns out to be yours, you will be liable for charges to clear the blockage as its in your garden

 

basicaly they are saying the council aint taking any responsibilty for the manhole's, they are actually storm drains which will take the water from al the roads and the front of the houses, if one blocks up it may cause flooding (worst case)

 

im no expert mind

A hand written note? lol Sounds to me like someone is trying to solve a problem the 'easy way'. If you own the property, write a letter to George Wimpey and tell them they do not have your permission to move the manhole cover onto your property. Hand deliver a copy to the site manager and ask him to sign a second copy to say he received it. Then the ball is in their court. If they want to pursue it further you could always seek legal advice. If they think they have a battle on their hands they'll probably site it somewhere else.

 

As for telling them its not in the plans. Chances are the plans you've seen won't even feature drainage. Even if they had those drawings could have been revised several times between you buying and the houses being completed. I wouldn't dwell on this too much. Bottom line is, it's your property now and that feature wasn't agreed prior to you completing and you don't want it.