Evil human being!!

[Arumlily]

Since 1994 when the new neighbours moved in they erected a 6 foot fence between our back garden. Foolishly we allowed them to claimed the down pipe onto to their part of the garden. Even though in actual fact it was meant to be shared by both families. We didn't make a fuss at the time as I was able to collect rain water from the down pipe. Last August while we were away, you would not believe how evil folks can be. They changed new fences and gave the impression that my rain water collection was not affected. In actual fact they left the hose still attached to my water butt, but seal and cut off my hose pipe that was attached to the down pipe. I would have accepted this evil deed if the intended plan was for their own water consumption.  Even though our two houses as they are, semi-detached there should be plenty to go round. Instead they rather see the water flow into the drain then go to my water butt! Now I suspect they have put something into my water butt, for my plants seemed to be dying from the accmulated water I've been using since.

Is it possible for me to create a locking devise for my water butt please. I would like to ensure that they won't be able to tamper with my water butt again when I go away. Thank you for reading.

[Arumlily]

[tonybloke]

send a sample of your water to your nearest environmental health office, also some to your nearest college / uni for analysis. also possibly the local water company. poisoning someone else's water is a criminal offence, i think it carries a mandatory large fine / imprisonment!!
rgds, tony

[SPUDLY]

I would agree with Tony about having your water checked. Not sure about locking your water butt, if they were determined to contaminate your water it would be hard to stop them. If your semi-detached, and your neighbours semi has a guttering that runs into a single down pipe in the middle of the two houses, you could put an extra down pipe on your side of the fence. Its all hassle i know, but if you took up a fight about the downpipe it could cost you a lot of money, not to mention hassle

[Hyacinth]

I certainly think that you should have your water butt checked for contamination if this is possible :-\

I wonder about the legality of claiming for themselves a downpipe which must, I would have thought, be marked as shared on the property deeds? Water, now, is costly. and I was wondering what would be the situation when/if you came to sell.....

Might a question on the GardenLaw site help you? Lots of knowledgeable people there.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php

[asbean]

Deffo get the water analysed by the environmental health people.  The police take this sort of thing seriously - we had the same when we complained about being shot at with a bb gun, the person we complained about retaliated by burning noxious stuff on his bonfire.

[Arumlily]

Thanks folks for your responses. This family has caused me great distress even till today. I have not confronted or made any fuss when I discover what he did. We can placed another downpipe but what will happen to the over flow, that is my greatest concern.

The house deeds is not very clear regarding boundaries. All that can be seen is just outlines, of the two properties.

Regarding air guns I believe they have it too! I just wonder how long before I become a practice target!!

Is it costly to get my water tested?

[asbean]

It shouldn't cost you anything if you ask the environmental health people to check it as you think it has been contaminated deliberately.

It's definitely worth giving them a ring and see what they say.

[saddad]

You could always mistake it for a rifle and call the cops... they might shoot him for yoyu...  :-X