What would you do ?

[ROYC75]

Let me back it up here, I've always suspected that the backside of neighbors house had a sewer line or even the main sewer line coming across into my lateral line. Years ago, they allowed landowners with multiple houses together to share the same lateral line. Now I have the proof, his line does tie into mine, matter of fact, it's right up under the deck of my house.

Backing up to 3 years ago, I had to replace about 80% of my lateral line from the bottom of my circle drive to the main city sewer line. That cost me $ 7500.00 and I didn't replace it all because I didn't want to dig up my blacktop drive at the time.


My neighbor has turned into a childish dick ever since his dog followed my dog back to our property and our other dog killed it. To add insult to injury, he slipped on the wet grass and broke his collar bone.

So my question is, do I make him pony up $3750.00 or have him put in his own sewer line, approx. 130 feet ? I would be willing to bet that 130 feet will cost him at least $10K to put in !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Originally Posted by ROYC75

Wow, this place never fails to amaze me. Let me see if I can clear some of the nonsense up here?

We have a perimeter fence around our property. Our Lab didn't have his collar on and wandered across the property line. So, by the time I had walked down to the end of the driveway (at the edge of the house to see what was going on), he was 15 feet across the property line doing what dogs do, licking and sniffing each other's ass's. I commanded him to come back across to my side, as he came back, the neighbor's pain in the ass Yorkie decided to follow him. Having artificial knees, I could not run to the property line fast enough to stop what was about to happen next. My grandson's Pit was there with his shock collar on, as soon as their dog entered 6' inside of our property, it was too late. It had been raining some prior to this time and the neighbor slipped as he tried to run downhill to catch his dog before crossing. He slipped and did a Charlie Brown flop on his back, landing in a way to break his collar bone. I got citated for not having my Lab on a leach, yet he was not citated for the same thing. But he took all of this personal, took the time to give the grandkids a hard time. Telling them, I'm going to kill all of your dogs. Even making threats towards the kid's friends. I had to call the police on him several times about it and even spoke to the Co. Attorney about his threats, causing fear within them. Even after I apologized to him the next day, expressing my sorrow for his dog and his personal injury that was sustained on his property turned into an ass. Nothing worked, he kept on starring at us as we took our pets out on a leash, video us, making threats, playing loud music all day (which I didn't care, we like the same music) even after hours outside. He even started playing the same song all day long, for 16 hrs out of the day! Sad part is, we always got along up to this point, I used to mow his yard for him. He retired as a prison guard, was having some medical issues and a couple of weeks prior to this dog incident, he apologized for being a " asshole " about treat us and anybody around us. I told him then not to think twice about it, that I knew something was up with his demeanor. But this incident flipped him out, he put No Trespassing signs on the trees, paid for a survey crew to mark his property and has put up a fence between us, all within his rights. Please keep in mind, this whole time he had acted like an ass (over medication & emotional duress) I never engaged in his comments and told the kids to not comment. (This attitude of his has gone on for 5 months now and I'm about to send it into orbit).

Keep in mind when we both bought our houses, me in 1998 and he in 2010 , we were not aware of the current sewer line issues or how it was installed back in the 1930's.

Which brings us to date, he dug up a section of my yard to cut into a sewer tile that runs under my deck, to get to my sewer line. (FYI, there is only 10-12 feet between our houses) This line connects between my house and a clean out trap I had installed about 6' from my house. So his line is within 2, maybe 3 feet off the corner of my house! Then it runs about 60' out to the end of my driveway where we put in a cleanout trap and the new line starts, 90' to the city sewer main.

Years ago back in the 30's when both of these houses were built, the same guy that owned the old tobacco warehouse across the street had our houses built to help house the people that worked there (plus the many more on this street). They were boarding houses back in the day, reason they were built side by side, so close on the same sewer line. Building codes were so much different then than now and all of this old tile is giving way! I feel it's just a matter of time before the section between what we did and the house gives in under my blacktop drive.

I need to do something about this scenario with a 1-time, somewhat friend that has turned into a dickhead over pets!

Since I have not approached him yet, I'm leaning towards just letting him put his own line in. But I was wondering if there was another option here for him, cuz we are going to have to revisit this sewer line again. So I was thinking about getting him to own up to 50% of the maintenance is only fair.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Balto

I think you only have one option and that is him getting his own line. UNLESS like others have mentioned, it says in the title/deed that its a shared line. If not then wouldn't you be worried about resale on your home? I think playing nice and offering him to pay half of that $7k repair is not even an option because of resale of both properties.

Send the certified cutoff letter and move on. Really the best thing you could hope for is if his new line needs to go under your driveway, that you are worried will need to be torn up at some point anyway to repair the remaining line, this would be a great time to go ahead and get that work done with him having to pay to replace the blacktop.

OH and just to keep in the spirit of the thread.....The real question is do you have access to his dead dogs corpse so you can use that to plug off the line when 30days are up?

Nothing on the deed about a shared sewer line, I checked it.

Going to meet with another attorney next week for confirmation on this issue before sending a certified letter from said attorney.

His new line will not go through my property at all.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I'm protected by City & County no leash laws and the fact his dog came to our property. Case Closed!

As for his fall, on his property, I'm not responsible for his falls, minor injuries sustained on his wet grass according to the city & county attorneys. Trust me, he has done tried, they told him there was nothing he can do. Case Closed !

My only concern here is the sewer line! That's it !

Which is the main concern. You dont know what this neighbor pours down his drain. Caustic chemicals old motor oil shit happens a lot. Your line is the only line that is connected to the sewer district. AS is if the epa found contamination from the sewer and they traced it to your sewer drain line you are responsible because neighbor has no connection. He has a good thing going.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

It's CP that thinks I want the money ! I have said all along it could be an option, a cheaper option ( possibly ) but in reality, I prefer he have his own line.

Originally Posted by ROYC75

TBF&H, I worded the OP to make it sound like $$$ was the important thing here

Originally Posted by ROYC75

My only concern here is the sewer line! That's it !

Tell Me More Michael Scott GIFfrom Tell Me More GIFs

[srvy]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I'm protected by City & County no leash laws and the fact his dog came to our property. Case Closed!

As for his fall, on his property, I'm not responsible for his falls, minor injuries sustained on his wet grass according to the city & county attorneys. Trust me, he has done tried, they told him there was nothing he can do. Case Closed !

My only concern here is the sewer line! That's it !

Which is the main concern. You dont know what this neighbor pours down his drain. Caustic chemicals old motor oil shit happens a lot. Your line is the only line that is connected to the sewer district. AS is if the epa found contamination from the sewer and they traced it to your sewer drain line you are responsible because neighbor has no connection. He has a good thing going.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

Nothing on the deed about a shared sewer line, I checked it.

Going to meet with another attorney next week for confirmation on this issue before sending a certified letter from said attorney.

His new line will not go through my property at all.

Another question,

Anyway to show that he was aware of the shared line before your repair 3 years ago?

Also, anyway a professional could examine the lines and state that with his line cutting into yours it put extra unnecessary stress/damage on them from TWO house holds waste that was never meant for just a single line? Could be grounds for Civil action to bring up to your attorney.

[BEAVER]

I suggest a few items:

1.) Go on a strict Chili cheese dog diet and back that shit up all the way to his kitchen sink.
2.) If forced to converse with him refer to him as "Champ" or "Sport". These are well known de-escalation terms.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by BEAVER

I suggest a few items:

1.) Go on a strict Chili cheese dog diet and back that shit up all the way to his kitchen sink.
2.) If forced to converse with him refer to him as "Champ" or "Sport". These are well known de-escalation terms.

Too soon?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

Nothing on the deed about a shared sewer line, I checked it.



Going to meet with another attorney next week for confirmation on this issue before sending a certified letter from said attorney.



His new line will not go through my property at all.

Regardless of the legal side of this, it still comes across to me as an epically dickish way of going about it. Adults would find out the details of what's going on and come to an agreement about how to fix it. And no, offering to have him pay you for work done years ago and doesn't actually fix the issue isn't a viable solution.

If you randomly knocked on my door and told me that you're giving me 30 days to rectify a problem that has existed for decades and will cost me five figures to fix, I'm taking that as an outright declaration of war. Anything I can legally do to make your life a living hell, I'm doing. Your dog is on my property? Dead. Your family parks and blocks my driveway? Towed. I'm consulting a lawyer and getting an inspection of every property line. Your fence is 2 inches on my side? Destroyed. Your grandkid loses a ball in my back yard? **** off, it's mine now. You didn't pull permits for work you did? Have fun ripping it out.

Maybe your neighbor isn't as vindictive as me. Just be careful what you wish for. I'd personally make it my personal mission to make you so miserable that you'd feel forced to move. And even then, I would do my best to look like a shitty neighbor to hurt your home value as much as I possibly could.

So good luck.

[Graystoke]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Regardless of the legal side of this, it still comes across to me as an epically dickish way of going about it. Adults would find out the details of what's going on and come to an agreement about how to fix it. And no, offering to have him pay you for work done years ago and doesn't actually fix the issue isn't a viable solution.

If you randomly knocked on my door and told me that you're giving me 30 days to rectify a problem that has existed for decades and will cost me five figures to fix, I'm taking that as an outright declaration of war. Anything I can legally do to make your life a living hell, I'm doing. Your dog is on my property? Dead. Your family parks and blocks my driveway? Towed. I'm consulting a lawyer and getting an inspection of every property line. Your fence is 2 inches on my side? Destroyed. Your grandkid loses a ball in my back yard? **** off, it's mine now. You didn't pull permits for work you did? Have fun ripping it out.

Maybe your neighbor isn't as vindictive as me. Just be careful what you wish for. I'd personally make it my personal mission to make you so miserable that you'd feel forced to move. And even then, I would do my best to look like a shitty neighbor to hurt your home value as much as I possibly could.

So good luck.

Me moving to DaFaces neighborhood;
‘Hi neighbor! My wife made you cookies. Hope we can be friends.”

[srvy]

Its all easy peasy when it doesn't effect's you or his land. As the land owner it can drive you crazy. it has been 3 years since both parties became aware of the situation as I understand it. That been enough time that a responsible neighbor should of worked a plan out to remove the line that encroaches onto Roys land and make a legal connection to city services.

I fully believe this should have been required long ago when the original owner sold off both lots to different parties. He had an obligation to declare this problem and fix it or have an sewer easement written over the lands in question to cover a mutual shared service lateral.

[Chiefs4TheWin]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Regardless of the legal side of this, it still comes across to me as an epically dickish way of going about it. Adults would find out the details of what's going on and come to an agreement about how to fix it. And no, offering to have him pay you for work done years ago and doesn't actually fix the issue isn't a viable solution.

If you randomly knocked on my door and told me that you're giving me 30 days to rectify a problem that has existed for decades and will cost me five figures to fix, I'm taking that as an outright declaration of war. Anything I can legally do to make your life a living hell, I'm doing. Your dog is on my property? Dead. Your family parks and blocks my driveway? Towed. I'm consulting a lawyer and getting an inspection of every property line. Your fence is 2 inches on my side? Destroyed. Your grandkid loses a ball in my back yard? **** off, it's mine now. You didn't pull permits for work you did? Have fun ripping it out.

Maybe your neighbor isn't as vindictive as me. Just be careful what you wish for. I'd personally make it my personal mission to make you so miserable that you'd feel forced to move. And even then, I would do my best to look like a shitty neighbor to hurt your home value as much as I possibly could.

So good luck.

Regardless of legality the dude already lost a pet. I wouldn't be surprised if he was already in war mode.

[srvy]

Its one thing to have a sewer drain line get roots in it and back up raw sewage (your shit) back up through a floor drain in your basement. Worse if you have no basement and in to your kitchen sink and floor. Its even worse when it your shit along with your neighbors!

[El Lobo Gordo]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Regardless of the legal side of this, it still comes across to me as an epically dickish way of going about it. Adults would find out the details of what's going on and come to an agreement about how to fix it. And no, offering to have him pay you for work done years ago and doesn't actually fix the issue isn't a viable solution.

If you randomly knocked on my door and told me that you're giving me 30 days to rectify a problem that has existed for decades and will cost me five figures to fix, I'm taking that as an outright declaration of war. Anything I can legally do to make your life a living hell, I'm doing. Your dog is on my property? Dead. Your family parks and blocks my driveway? Towed. I'm consulting a lawyer and getting an inspection of every property line. Your fence is 2 inches on my side? Destroyed. Your grandkid loses a ball in my back yard? **** off, it's mine now. You didn't pull permits for work you did? Have fun ripping it out.

Maybe your neighbor isn't as vindictive as me. Just be careful what you wish for. I'd personally make it my personal mission to make you so miserable that you'd feel forced to move. And even then, I would do my best to look like a shitty neighbor to hurt your home value as much as I possibly could.

So good luck.

The neighbor has a history of making threats to the OPs grandkids and their friends. Serious dickish behavior on the neighbor's part is already afoot.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by El Lobo Gordo

The neighbor has a history of making threats to the OPs grandkids and their friends. Serious dickish behavior on the neighbor's part is already afoot.

It can get far worse.

[El Lobo Gordo]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It can get far worse.

Based on what you have said in this thread, if your neighbor threatened your grand kids and their friends I don't think you'd be inclined to be a nice guy when it came to handling this situation about the sewer line.

If you are the OP, How do you approach this guy and present the problem you want solved?