Stormwater runoff from neighbouring property

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Stormwater runoff from neighbouring property

1 | 2

Disrespective

1934 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 146

#3394518 16-Jul-2025 09:55

cddt:

Ragnor:

"Downpipes have to be connected to a stormwater system and are not allowed to discharge onto the ground surface"

I assume this is not retrospective. Our old house definitely had one downpipe discharging onto the ground... built 1930 though.

Correct. This would likely only require rectification if you were to do any modifications to the stormwater connection on the property that also required building consent.

The original post itself is an interesting one. I believe that there's no explicit rule that states you have to manage your stormwater entirely within your own boundaries.

There is a by-law (a copy linked below) which would probably be worth looking at. It has a number of purposes but in this case it helps protect the public from 'nuisance' from damaged or misused stormwater systems.

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/bylaws/Documents/stormwater-bylaw.pdf

My recommendation would be (as others have said) to write a nice letter explaining the situation but ensure there is a date for the work to be completed by. If the nuisance from their damaged/poorly maintained stormwater system is what you consider to be impacting you or your property then you should consult a lawyer.

FWIW i'm an Architect in Auckland.

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6228

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3394533 16-Jul-2025 10:45

Disrespective:

If the nuisance from their damaged/poorly maintained stormwater system is what you consider to be impacting you or your property then you should consult a lawyer.

If no success with the owner, I'd talk to the Council - as in this post - before going to a lawyer.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

cddt

1981 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1927

#3394543 16-Jul-2025 11:06

johno1234:

They are Chinese and I am sure from previous hellos that there will be a language issue.

I have a friend who is dealing with this now regarding a failing retaining wall on the neighbour's side of the boundary. The neighbour's landlord is in China, has either ignored or not received all communication attempts.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

Jase2985

13746 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6230

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3394546 16-Jul-2025 11:15

cddt:

Ragnor:

"Downpipes have to be connected to a stormwater system and are not allowed to discharge onto the ground surface"

I assume this is not retrospective. Our old house definitely had one downpipe discharging onto the ground... built 1930 though.

We are urban Auckland, built 1950's, there are 3 houses at the end of our street with no stormwater, we are one of them. for some reason the just decided to stop extending the storm water system. who knows why. but who has to pay for it if we need a connection? hint, its not watercare.

One side of my house goes straight into the sewage, one goes into soak pits and the garage goes to the street.

Bung

6736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2929

Subscriber

#3394563 16-Jul-2025 11:36

cddt:

I have a friend who is dealing with this now regarding a failing retaining wall on the neighbour's side of the boundary. The neighbour's landlord is in China, has either ignored or not received all communication attempts.

In our Wgtn house we had Chinese neighbours who arrived when Hong Kong changed over. After some time they got bored here and decided that the sky hadn't fallen in HK so went back. They kept the house maybe as a future option. They don't spend any money on it.

tweake

2663 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1141

#3394703 16-Jul-2025 18:41

johno1234:
That’s different and this is why councils care about non permeable site cover.
If the site is undeveloped water is absorbed over the whole area into the ground. Where there is non permeable site cover water is concentrated into small areas, cannot be absorbed and runs off elsewhere or floods.

thats a little bit incorrect. that only happens in light rain. in heavy rain, the ground can't soak it up anyway, so it makes no difference.

however its a side issue to the main point here. a bare section has just as much water coming off it as a house, and your drainage is designed for that. the story of basement flooded because someone uphill drainage wasn't well maintained is a cop out. their basement drainage wasn't done properly in the first place. council probably approved it so they don't want liability by admitting it was done badly, so they blame the neighbor's.

a lot of houses have drains on the uphill side that discharge on the down hill side, which all flows down to the neighbors.

once again the rule is (depending on council) that natural runoff is your problem.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

johno1234

3386 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2866

#3394707 16-Jul-2025 19:20

That’s flat out incorrect.

tweake

2663 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1141

#3394995 17-Jul-2025 17:55

johno1234:

That’s flat out incorrect.

which bit?

Bung

6736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2929

Subscriber

#3395001 17-Jul-2025 18:46

I think it could be the drain. Once water is collected I don't think you can just discharge it onto nneighbour.

The Wellington council checked our hill side place because neighbour was complaining. Luckily the retaing wall drains were insignificant compared to the rest of the jungle.

tweake

2663 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1141

#3395560 19-Jul-2025 13:40

Bung:

I think it could be the drain. Once water is collected I don't think you can just discharge it onto nneighbour.

The Wellington council checked our hill side place because neighbour was complaining. Luckily the retaing wall drains were insignificant compared to the rest of the jungle.

yes. collecting all the water then piping and discharging at one spot, especially onto your neighbors, can cause damage. it has be "natural flow". a trick with basement drains. retaining walls etc, is to use a spreader to spread it across the same width as the collection area.

plenty of small town houses still have water tanks. when they are full the entire water flow off the roof goes out the overflow and onto the ground.

a mate had it where the neighbor put a drain in and diverted the water onto the neighbors beside him. mates retaining wall got so much water it collapsed. lawsuit followed but the neighbor died before it was resolved. so mate had to pay for the repairs.

if you have a look at places overseas where they have reasonably well draining soil, they don't have storm water systems. all the houses in the suburbs just dump the water out of the downpipes onto the ground next to the house and it all flows downhill. it either goes into road side drains, or the poor guy at the bottom of the hill gets a nice lake whenever it rains.

1 | 2