Are manholes in the home illegal?

[crystaljt1]

Please help, I have a manhole in my bedroom. Are these illegal? I know nothing about them but assumed they were only meant to be outside?? Can waste come up through this manhole? Its a small room in a ground floor flat. Surely this is not right??

[pink-kittens]

A manhole in your bedroom?
Do you live in a very old converted house?
Could it be a coal hole cover?
Have you opened it to
see what's down there?

[crystaljt1]

No, I have been told that the flats are only 3 years old. I had a problem with the toilet blocking and overflowing on 2 occasions. I called the landlord who sent plumbers. I told them about the manhole and they too seemed quite shocked that this was in the bedroom. Defo not a coal hole cover. They had opened it but told me to leave the room as I was holding my baby. Very worried this can cause problems

[MarzipanQ]

I wonder if the Enviromental Health Officer at your local Council could help? Worth a phone call.

[daffy654]

You might get more answers if you put this question in the LAW section of the site as well.

[luxury]

Hi,

I don't know about building regulaions but a manhole cover indoors???

Try NHBC and see if they can help.

http://www.nhbcbuilder.co.uk/?gclid=CIvMhOTljZ cCFYwH3god6QamDA

[crystaljt1]

Thank you to all of you for your help.

[luxury]

I've just read this:

Indoor manhole covers must have a vapor-proof seal.

and this from Money Saving Expert

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=461616

I think a lot of people have manhole covers in their consevatorys. So it must be legal still wouldn't be happy with one in the bedroom though.

[Cathyhuns]

We had a conservatory built over a manhole and had to have it replaced with one they described as "double sealed". If you haven't got one of this type your builder has probably not met Building Regs so you should get in touch with the Council.

[Ethel]

How old is your house? Is the manhole in an extension?

If so, how old is the extension?

[crystaljt1]

the flat is 3 years old

[crystaljt1]

also, i keep finding silverfish around it

[buildersmate]

Cathyhuns is on exactly the right lines.
No waste will come through a double sealed, scred down cover.
Covers in most conservatories do not count - they are not counted as habitable rooms (by and large).

[4getmenot]

I did answer on other post, but no not illegal at all. and often you will find internal manholes where a person has built an extension and not even bothered putting an access hatch in so the whole lot has to be dug up if any damage is found in pipes

[raysparx1]

it is alot more common than you might think, come across this on quite a few properties, it isn't illegal as long as it is installed properly.