Neighbour has built annex over shared private sewer.
I purchased my property 5 years ago.
Plots of land sold off to individual buyers who built houses on them.
I bought from someone who bought the plot to build then live in. They stayed in house for circa 3 years
My neighbour bought his plot and built his home.
We share a private drain/sewer connection which finds its way into an adopted sewer.
Both our houses have completion certificates.
Deeds state we are connected to a public or private sewer.
Not had or having any sewer problems.
He built a form of annex/single story "granny flat" circa 3 years ago which his teenage kids live in.
He has decided to apply to convert this into a separate dwelling.
Some other houses are being built nearby and they have sought to connect into drains via our route - but they have been advised that the annex has been built over the drain/sewer, making it an "illegal sewer" and as such they have to find other means to connect into the main sewer.
It has dawned on me:
If we have issues with sewer in future it is inaccessible as this 2nd house is over the top of it.
Even if it were accessible I have no "rights" from what I can tell to access it as its on his private land
Have decent relationship with my neighbour but he is very laid back about all this... as you would expect. But if he were to move - this would be a "me" problem in future that my new neighbours might not see as their concern.
I plan to move in next 5 years... obviously when I bought the house the drain wasnt built over...it is now.... maybe this will be highlighted as a concern to potential buyers.
I dont really know what to do here.
Water board see it as a private drain/issue.
Council have said its a civil matter.
So short of him knocking annex down and/or me going down some legal route... im not sure what I should do.
Welcome any advice/views.
Thanks