workmen

[weas]

yesterday sunday i went out for lunch! when i returned the water board had been to my property dug up my brand new drive and changed the meter. do i have any come back on them ,as i now have a great big patch in the middle of the drive thanks

[Eve]

Did they give you any notice or was it an emergency job?

Some statutory undertakers eg gas, electricity and water suppliers have certains rights of access over part of pproperty where their cabling, pipes and similar run underneath.

Usually it would come up when you bought on the Water and Drainage search or, if a new build, s.104 Agreements or the lease/transfer.

Speak to the water board and ask them to explain the circumstances such as their right to enter and do work without notice ie was it an emergency and where they have their authority from and if there is any source of redress.

[ct75]

do you mean actually in your drive or the footway (pavement/vehicle crossover) outside your property

[Eve]

Just another thought, did your new drive block over the previous access to the water meter so they couldn't get to it without digging through?

Found this re building over sewers but trying to check if the same applies to meters etc...

http://www.unitedutilities.com/resources/files /1307_1721%20Building%20over%20sewers%20(1%20M ar%2007).pdf

Who is your water company?

[buildersmate]

Changing a water meter on a Sunday is not a normal occurrence. Are you absolutely sure this was the first you knew of this / you weren't knee-deep in the stuff from a water leak?

[weas]

yes! on a sunday, i have spoke to the water board there are coming out here at 10 !! we had a very large manhole cover in the drive , and we have a very small one now ans a big patch they could of just changed the meter in the the manhole but i think the price of scrap metal may come into play here .when we bought the property the drive was awful so we spent �8000 on a new drive now with a big cut out in it.

[buildersmate]

Very strange. The water meter is normally located just outside the boundary of the home-owner's property. Then the responsibility for the water pipe from the point it enters your property to your house is yours. This avoids them having to come onto your land to deal with the water meter.
It would not economic sense to change the inspection cover for a smaller one just for the scrap value of the old cover.
You appear to be saying this meter is on your land. Utilities do have rights to enter the property to inspect their installation, but this is more often associated with the passage of a public sewer over your land. And they give notice, or seek permission first.

[ct75]

I will ask again was this work done on your own land or on the pavement outside?
If outside then it is council maintained adopted highway and therefore the utility company would have notified the local authority.

[weas]

ct75! on my property which bit do you not understand?yes buildersmate but i am sure i have rights to. .

[buildersmate]

Do let us know what explanation they offer.

[redcrx]

They wont have done it for scrap difference. A 500 dia cover at most would be about a fiver in scrap.

I hope you get some decent answers if they have done this wihout even notifying you.

[terambulan]

Surely not on a Sunday........? I think someone's playing a prank on you...........tell the police

[ct75]

There is no need to be so abrupt with your reply.
You will not believe the amount of people who think they own the pavement outside their house this is why I asked if the footway was dug up rather than the private side of your boundary.

[weas]

thanks to all for helpful comments. i did not mean to be abrupt, had visit from water board it was a mistake they should of checked the meter not replace, they are to repay to have drive redone result!!
thanks again