Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Michigan

common (shared) sewer line/property damage

The adjacent property owner shares a common sewer line to the city main with us. Our property has not used city utilities for over 3 years. The sewer line in our basement is broken and the neighbor's sewage is flooding our basement. City ordinance requires that all property owners must make a direct connection unless it is physcially impossible. Our nieghbor can make the connection. Can we block the flow into our basement forcing the neighbor to have to hook up to the city main independantly? We also learned that an unlicensed plumber may have attached our nieghbor's line to the original common because the neighbor's line to the main is blocked by roots. Can the plumber be held liable?


Asked on 8/16/05, 10:31 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Blake Lipman Law Office of Blake P. Lipman

Re: common (shared) sewer line/property damage

Absent an agreement with your neighbor, you will have to seek a court order compelling the neighbor to maintain his own sewer line. Self-help will only get you sued by the neighbor and may expose you to liability for property damage. For more info., please contact my office at (248)851-3171.

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Answered on 8/18/05, 3:02 pm


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