I have a drain in my house that has raw sewerage flowing through it?

Question

I was told I needed to install a double seal manhole cover by law I asked a builder to do this and requested that he install a double seal he had installed a single seal manhole plus the seal in the manhole is damaged. I have not paid this builder do I have the right to with hold payment This was not the only problem I had with this builder so I do not want them round to rectify the job I will need to bring in a seperate builder also is a single seal against building regualtions and is it therefore ilegal to put in a single seal? adn would there be someone I could report this to.

Answer 1

Health and Safety Executive,Building regs:local authority should be able to  help

Answer 2

The building regs guy will not sign the build off if it is a single seal. Get the builder back immediately to change it. If you would rather a different builder do it, then get an estimate for the work, and deduct it from the original builders bill.

Answer 3

t should be double seal,,and it should have a s***w down lid ...and yes its against building regs not to have the proper lid ...I'm a builder ..but don't pay him ..if he gives you grief ...ring your local building control

Answer 4

You need a double seal s***w down type cover. Forget your original builder - the property is yours and you are responsible for complying. There are plenty of covers on the market - get a competent builder in to finish the job insist that the new cover complies with British Standards and pay him with the money you have withheld. All too common, I am afraid. Don't expect Bulding Control to do much about your builder - it's not their job. Seal the edges with gaffer tape whilst your waiting to get it sorted out - you don't want your house full of sewer gases.

EDIT

Sorry to hear that you are not well - Sewer gases consist of methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide (the rotten eggs smell).  The danger here is that it is all rather unpleasant rather than being toxic in the kind of concentrations you are likely to get. Ammonia is an irritant, but as the quack says it is probably coincidental: I would imagine it will be hard to prove anything in a claim situation. I raised this as more a concern for your fragrant well being rther than wanting to cause unease. We hobbits are very sensitive to smell. Hope you get this resolved quickly.

Answer 5

On an inside manhole cover it should be double seal and usualy scewed down I would not pay the builder until the work is as you asked for also as per building regs

You could always go to the sanitry department of the council they will condem the cover so then it would have to be put right