There's a horrible smell outside. →[More:]It's only subtle, but noticeable. I think it's the sewage drain.

This is due to be replaced under the insurance because it's been damaged by tree roots but I suspect it's now actually cracked and is leaking a little.

The work was due to start in February, but is still outstanding because two of my three neighbours (the one from hell upstairs and the guy next door to me) haven't paid their one-quarter share of the deductible, and the building owner is now having to ask their mortgage companies to pay it. So all this is taking time, and in the meantime the drain has finally cracked.

The tree causing the problem belongs to the neighbour from hell. The previous owners used to get it trimmed back every three years. He's never bothered so it's got bigger and bigger and is now absolutely huge. It has a Preservation Order on it, so it can't be cut down or trimmed unless the local council approves.

As you may recall, this neighbour is a nightmare, for various reasons. He's ignored letters from the council and our building owner going back several years telling him the tree needs to be cut back. He thinks if he ignores them, the problem will go away. Hello? 70ft oak tree in your yard? Will. Not. Go. Away. By. Itself. The building owner has now threatened him with court action to have the tree trimmed back.

The roots have caused cracking to the corner of the building which will have to be repaired, as well as the drain problems. Thankfully the insurance covers it, apart from the £1,000 deductible (split between four) but the tree needs to be significantly reduced in size.

But - yay! - the building owner says that if Neighbour From Hell won't arrange it, he'll get onto the neighbour's mortgage company. If they have to pay for the work they'll add the cost to his mortgage (which the law says they can do), and it'll cost him a lot more in the long run.

But for today - ewww. Slight pooey smell in the air. It's not likely to be sorted out soon, but fortunately it's not near the living room or bedrooms, it's down the side of the building.