Doctor Sues Former Homeowners Over Alleged Sewage Issues
A hospital consultant and his partner are suing the previous owners of their £625,000 home, claiming they were not informed about recurring raw sewage problems linked to an overflowing sewer system.
A radiologist, Dr. Brett Ibbeson, and his partner, Karen Man Yan Chan, have initiated legal proceedings against William and Suzanne Temple, the former owners of their four-bedroom home in Brockley, Suffolk. The couple alleges that the Temples fraudulently misrepresented the property, failing to disclose a history of flooding and raw sewage issues caused by an overwhelmed pumping station.
Dr. Ibbeson and Ms. Chan purchased the property in March 2025, reportedly after being assured in a property information form that the house had never flooded. During the legal inquiries, when questioned about sewer problems, the sellers allegedly stated they had experienced occasional issues with the downstairs toilet not flushing properly, but that Anglian Water, which operates a nearby pumping station, was quick to address repairs. They did not disclose the extent of the recurring sewage backups.
Following their move, the new owners claim they discovered that the sewage pumping station, located approximately 20 yards from their home, could become overwhelmed during wet weather. Anglian Water advised them to severely restrict water usage, including showering and flushing toilets, when it rained, due to the risk of sewage escaping from manholes and backing up into the house and garden. The couple states that without this knowledge, they would not have purchased the property.
In November 2025, Dr. Ibbeson and Ms. Chan reportedly obtained records of 16 complaints made by the Temples to Anglian Water between 2014 and their sale of the house. These complaints detailed issues such as the downstairs toilet and upstairs shower not functioning from November onwards for several months, and the presence of "residual 3Ps (pee, poo and paper)" in the front garden. The records also indicated numerous visits by Anglian Water to the property. The Temples had allegedly threatened to report Anglian Water to environmental health and sought compensation for the issues.
Dr. Ibbeson and Ms. Chan are seeking a full refund of the purchase price, totaling £625,000, along with expenses incurred. These costs include those for a drainage engineer's investigation, hotel and Airbnb accommodation totaling £2,112.86, and future expenses related to conveyancing, mortgage redemption fees (£18,085.95), and borrowing costs. They are also seeking compensation for distress, inconvenience, and loss of use and enjoyment of the property.
The Temples, in response to a letter of claim in February, admitted to a “small number of occasions where there was a small surcharge of sewage in the garden” but have denied overall liability. No defense to the claim, filed last month, has yet been lodged with the High Court.