Appealing against the October 1 vesting of drains and sewers

Ofwat has published its guidance on the making of appeals in relation to the transfer of private sewers and lateral drains (and eventually pumping stations) in England and Wales. Remember that an automatic transfer of private sewers and lateral drains is occurring on October 1, 2011. Any land owner who wishes to appeal against this automatic vesting on the basis of “serious detriment” resulting from the vesting has only two months from the date the sewerage company gives notice of the vesting, privately or publicly. Sewerage companies started to serve individual notices on or after 1 July 2011, and published notices in the London Gazette and regional papers at the end of July. Time will therefore, in most cases, already be running.