Requesting advice on granting neighbor sewer easement (attorney, new home) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

backtonova · 10-07-2018, 07:14 AM

Hello,

A neighbor wants to run a new sewer line through our front yard. Their current septic system is new yet they want to connect to city sewer, and that requires drawing a line through our property. They have offered to bear all costs for the work.

Looking for advice on what we may be in store for down the road if we do the neighborly thing and grant them easement for the sewer line. The "hire an attorney" option is already under consideration, I'm looking for advice from folks on this forum based on their personal experiences having been down this road.

lovnova · 10-07-2018, 07:38 AM

We had a neighbor wanting to run a water line through out property to a new home he was building. He offered us $1,500 dollars to do so.
We declined because we were concerned about (possible) future maintenance issues with the line.

Of course they should bear all the costs.
Additionally, they should pay you a fee to place the sewer line on your property.

petsandgardens · 10-07-2018, 08:22 AM

So this would really be your legal front yard you actually own, right? Not a DOT easement/utility area alongside the road and several feet back toward your house touching the front yard you fully legally own?

When we lived in No. Va. any work done even in the easement strips, everyone in the area would get notice so we could prepare with vehicle parking and coming and going and cancel the landscape work, call off the mower guy, etc. Moved several hours away...nada. Work fully in progress exiting our home with no notice because...well, it's just an easement controlled by DOT.

Flamingo13 · 10-07-2018, 09:53 AM

I don't think I'd grant one through my yard - down the road if there is a break, tree roots blocking, etc. - it's your responsibility for repair (which I understand can be quite pricey, involves digging up your yard, etc.)

backtonova · 10-09-2018, 09:31 AM

Thanks all for the replies. I'm leaning towards a 'no' at this point due to the possibility of future repairs, pointed out by @Flamingo13.

@petsandgardens: yes this is through our yard, not through DOT easement/utility area. Thanks for your note.

petsandgardens · 10-09-2018, 09:45 AM

Yes, easements are tricky. There are the issues mentioned. There can also be a "give them an inch..." outlook. They may have damage and no remorse. Or, the opposite, they may feel some ownership...overly so. If the city wants the neighbor's water fee, they could probably find a work-around.

lchoro · 10-09-2018, 01:58 PM

If there's any problem with the line, such as a clog or a leak, they'd have to dig through your yard to locate the source of the problem.

North Beach Person · 10-09-2018, 02:12 PM

Using modern materials, meaning PVC, there shouldn't be any maintenance issues on that sewer line for decades.
The property owner should, if it's done correctly, have a clean out near his house for his lateral and the utility will have one near the main.
I'm not familiar with Virginia but it may well be that the sewer authority can force you to grant an easement if not doing so makes the neighboring house uninhabitable.

North Beach Person · 10-09-2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovnova

We had a neighbor wanting to run a water line through out property to a new home he was building. He offered us $1,500 dollars to do so.
We declined because we were concerned about (possible) future maintenance issues with the line.

Of course they should bear all the costs.
Additionally, they should pay you a fee to place the sewer line on your property.

How did the neighbor end up getting water service?