Blocked Sewer and Strata

[seth]

Hi All,
Seems my sewer is blocked. Last time this happened (2 years ago) the plumber who unblocked it said it may be caused by tree roots.

The plumbing service diagram I have shows my line travels through my neighbors property (we are both in the same strata). My neighbor has a separate line and both his and my line connect at the same junction box to the Sydney water sewer.

What I want to know is if tree roots are the problem and the tree is on my neighbors property then who pays the plumber for repairs? Me? My Neighbor? The Strata?

Also if the tree needs to be maintained/removed and in order for the problem not to re occur who pays for that?

If I have to pay can I claim on my house insurance?

Any advice appreciated. I'm calling a plumber first thing in the morning.

Cheers

[bricks]

first of all you'd need to check your strata agreement/ contract. This should tell you. Sometimes the strata as a group pays.

Otherwise if the offending tree is on the neigbours property, then the chance is that the trees roots are also on his property- your just the end of the the line and showing signs of blockage first.

He who owns the tree pays the bill, same as if the tree fell over and landed on your house. It might ( although costing money) save you a few bucks to get a plumber with a camera down the drain to find the blockage, That will tell you where the blockage is, In relation to property boundary.

PS Im a plumber, and I've won this argument every time where the offending tree was someone elses. It will however cost you to prove your position.

[Jedo_03]

... has the same problem...
The plumber was there today - had some contraption that 'cuts' the roots in the sewer pipes...
No trees at all on her side of the fence...
Plenty on the neighbour's side...
The plumber reckoned the sewer pipe was down to half an inch clearance before he 'cut' it out...
Who's liable..?
Well... Apart from the neighbour being 'culpable' by planting trees in the first place... It is beyond his control which direction the roots grow...
Roots "seek" water and nutrients...
Said water and nutrients are available in sewer pipes...
Plumber reckons they'll grow back within 3 - 6 months...
Block her drains again...
That's life...
Jedo

[batcat]

Just been through a similar experience with my sister's place.
The ruling was that the owner was responsible for pipe work internally & the stata from where the pipes entered the wall internally, but not the 'finish' layer (ie she responsible for the tiles but strata were responsible for the render and all work from there back to the mains.
Her pipes are shared though so it may be different because yours are separate.

[Sturdee]

He who owns the tree pays the bill, same as if the tree fell over and landed on your house. It might ( although costing money) save you a few bucks to get a plumber with a camera down the drain to find the blockage, That will tell you where the blockage is, In relation to property boundary.

I disagree.

I had that problem years ago where the neighbours tree roots blocked my sewerage pipe and my barrister friend advised me to forget it as I would be wasting my money. Instead after sensible discussions the neighbour agreed to remove the offending tree which was a much better outcome.

Peter.

[bricks]

I disagree.

I had that problem years ago where the neighbours tree roots blocked my sewerage pipe and my barrister friend advised me to forget it as I would be wasting my money. Instead after sensible discussions the neighbour agreed to remove the offending tree which was a much better outcome.

Peter.

Correct, you can win the argument, but mostly these things are cheaper to resolve using good old fashioned common sense.

another way to sneakily remove the problem is to treat the drains regularly with rootox, eventually the offending tree will die then the neighbour has to cut it down. But thats a pretty underhanded way to go about it.

[Qldp]

I'm not sure what the rules in other states are, but up here in Qld, if the blockage is outside your yard or on a combine line, the council/sewer pays. If it is in your yard, you pay. Not sure on a strata, I would think the same would apply, if it is in your yard,you pay, if it is in next door, the strata would likely pay. Check with them.

The best option by far is to fix the problem by replacing the drain. Removing the CURRENT offending tree will not fix a broken or cracked pipe. That pipe will always be broken and will always be a problem. I have seen many people spend more money to cut down a tree they thought might have been the problem to only have to call me in to replace the drain anyway.

Its not the neighbors fault your sewer or the council sewer is brocken, so killing thier tree doesn't sound very fair.

No, I am not a tree hugger, just like to have shade up here in sunny QLD.

Ask the plumber where it was blocked and go from there.