Access to manhole covers

[ARWadsworth]

Is there any requirement by law to keep access to manhole covers clear?

My parents recently noticed a blockage in their drains. Their drains feed into the next door neighbours drains and the the next door neighbours drains were also filled up. (so that is where the original blockage was but standing turds/fat etc also caused a secondary blockage between my parents and the next door neighbours drain).

When we tried to access the next door but one neighbours manhole cover we found out that he has built a wall over it. Is there anything in the building regs etc about allowing access to lift a manhole cover?

And yes it is DIY as it was me that had to rod the drains (with advice from a friend on how to do it properly). It would be better if we could lift the next door but one neighbours manhole to ensure that the drain is clear and rod upwards with the "plunger" bit if needed.

Cheers

Adam

[Tim Watts]

If it's anything like my deeds, your neighbour may have a legal obligation to maintain their portion of the drain, being a shared sewer.

The other option is that the water company (waste) may have adopted the same shared sewer - worth a phone call to them to enquire. If they have, they'll be less than pleased about anything being built on top of any of it, let alone a wall over the pit.

That's part of the reason I've never persued having mine adopted - I can take a chance and lob sheds over it at my risk if the drain needs attention - Although I wouldn't build anything more than a trival garden toolshed over any of my pipe and certainly not over the two main pits!

[Bruce]

If built over, the manhole should be incorporated into the new structure (usually in the floor) and the cover should be changed for a sealed one. They come in various types including some with covers designed to accept tiles, vinyl flooring etc. They can look surprisingly good.

[dom]

If the construction was (or should have been) subject to building regulations, then the regs do have things to say about building over drainage.

There may also be local byelaws (e.g. the fenland drainage companies have them) limiting construction close to drainage (though that's more about the flood drainage they maintain).

[ARWadsworth]

It is not a building structure/extension that covers the manhole cover. Just a stupid outside garden wall about two foot high that runs across the manhole cover. A photo would have replaced a thousand words in this case.

Adam

[Steve Walker]

In which case it would have made sense for the neighbour to build a wall up to each side of the manhole and fit a wooden or metal fence/gate type panel in the gap or go arounbd it. It'd look slightly odd, but so what?

SteveW

[Bruce]

I apologise for not posting a link to a photo. ;-)