Hollywood Stuntman Sues Surveyor Over Defective Septic Tank

A Hollywood stuntman who claims sewage from a faulty septic tank has blighted his £500,000 country home is suing the surveyors who inspected the property before he bought it.

Robert Bowen, whose film credits include F1, starring Brad Pitt, says his move to a cottage in Lincolnshire was marred by "overflowing foul drainage".

Mr Bowen and his partner, Lucy Vaughan, are seeking around £150,000 in damages from Beehoo Surveying Limited, alleging that its pre-purchase survey failed to identify several serious defects.

The couple claim the property has also suffered from flooding, a roof so badly deteriorated that it needs replacing, and non-functioning solar panels.

However, lawyers representing the Spalding-based surveying firm argue that, although some minor defects were overlooked, most of the alleged problems — including the septic tank issue — were not present or detectable at the time of the inspection.

Mr Bowen, who is based in Derbyshire, previously travelled the world participating in extreme sports and trained with Shaolin monks in China before pursuing a career as a Hollywood stunt performer.

His screen credits include F1, Disney's 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, The Flash and the television series House of the Dragon.

In 2023, Mr Bowen and Ms Vaughan purchased the detached property, along with 4.7 acres of land in Frithville, Lincolnshire, for £495,000.

Court documents filed at the High Court in London state that, after completing the purchase, the couple noticed "a foul smell to the exterior of the property, together with overflowing foul drainage".

In its defence, Beehoo Surveying Limited admits that it should have identified and reported potential problems involving the chimney, flooding from the driveway, the pitch of the porch roof and an issue with a downpipe.

The firm denies the remaining allegations, including claims that it should have identified the other defects reported by the couple.

Whitestone Solicitors