Step one: don’t go full nuclear. I know you want to. You’ve envisioned cutting that pipe with bolt cutters at midnight. But that’s criminal damage, and then you’re the villain of this story.
Instead, start with a friendly chat over the fence. “Hey, Dave, your pipe is in my flowerbed. Any chance we can sort this?”
Nine times out of ten, Dave will be mortified. He probably hired the cheapest plumber in the UK, and that guy just took the shortest route to the sewer. No malice, just pure, lazy plumbing.
When Friendly Fails (and Dave Gets Defensive)
If Dave shrugs and says, “Not my problem, mate,” then it’s time for the big guns. Send a formal letter. Yes, an actual paper letter. It feels like 1995, but it creates a paper trail.
In that letter, politely demand they remove the pipe or get a formal easement agreement. That’s lawyerspeak for “pay you for the right to drip on your roses.”
If they ignore that? You can escalate to a solicitor. And yes, that costs money. But so does having a damp foundation. Pick your poison.
