Drains/sewerage problem

A question about : Drains/sewerage problem

Hi everyone

Me and dh are worried sick. We share our drains with around 5 or 6 houses on our Close, and our next door neighbour keeps having a problem with sewerage flooding onto his property, which is also flooding down onto ours (his property is raised). When it first happened, he bought some rods and had a poke about, it seems that the blockage is always on our side, but the waste backs up to his when it's blocked.

It seems to be sanitary towels and suchlike causing some of the problem, from someone oop the road. But this has only started to happen in the last 12 months or so, and I'm sure they always did the same before then, so we're worried there is an issue with the drains on our property. I'm not sure if it's just a conincidence that it's since the heavy rain/flooding, and also the fact that our the entire mains water pipes are shot and need replacing (according to the men from the water board who seem to be coming out monthly to repair them as they're so old, but of course they won't replace them). Could this have any effect on the drains?? I have no idea

We're skint though. I think we need some advice as to what to do next. Dh wants to get a man with a camera to see what the problem is, but I'm worried about the cost of that, too. I want to make sure that whatever we do is necessary, and we're only spending on what is needed to be done. And of course, that we get the problem fixed.

We have 2 young children, and so obviously sewerage in the garden is not good! Nor is it for anyone, come to that.

The neighbour is checking the drains twice daily at the mo. It's getting to be a huge issue. They're lovely about it but I'm also concerned that it could be roots from one of our bushes in our garden (or trees cut to bush size) that may have caused a problem.

What shall we do first? Is there a chance we might be able to get some help? My sister said that the council dealt with her drains, but I think that's only certain properties. I am going to contact them today about it.

All advice welcomed!!!!! I'm not sleeping at the mo as it's on the top of list of huge things we need to fork out for that we can ill afford.

Many thanks
Lucy x

Best answers:

• Hi Lucy,
  Try your insurance company we had a flood recently of sewage through the dining room ceiling because the drain outside was blocked, We needed the pipe replacing because someone had poured cement down it. The insurance company has paid for it all to be replaced perhaps you and your neighbour can go to your own insurance companies and explain the situation and they should be able to repair or replace the drain with no cost to you really apart from your excess.
  You NEED to do this NOW because if it's anything like what we have had it could easily block your soil stack which then when you have a bath or shower it can easily back up into the bath or shower and overflow like it has here.
  This is really important that you get this sorted asap!!!
  Steph xx
• Did you get it sorted?
  Gav
• No still got no carpet in the dining room and bathroom, we can't eat out of the kitchen they are now replacing the bath after having it cleaned when we filled it with hot water and turned the pump on sh!t came out of the jets literally the builder went as white as a sheet and half a hour later got a phone call to say go find a new bath
  we found the same bath which was delivered on wednesday but one of the legs is bent so sent it back we are getting another bath delivered next thursday which will then be 14 weeks since all this happened.
  Steph xx