Drainage problems can be disruptive and costly, and responsibility for fixing them is something a bit of a grey area in the UK.
Private Drains
In most cases, homeowners who live in a detached house, semi-detached property, or own a leasehold with responsibility for internal drainage are responsible for maintaining and repairing private drains. These are the pipes that carry wastewater from your home to the point where they connect with a shared drain or the public sewer. If a blockage, collapse, or leak occurs within your property boundary and affects only your home, the cost of resolving the issue usually falls to you.
If you’re worried about drain issues, a cost-effective way to spot them is with a survey. A company like https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/leicester/ can do a CCTV drain survey Leicester or elsewhere in the UK to identify blockages or infrastructure issues without any digging.
Shared Drains and Public Sewers
When drainage systems are shared and used by more than one property, responsibility shifts to the regional water company.
Since 2011, most shared drains and lateral drains in England and Wales have been adopted by water authorities, meaning homeowners are no longer liable for their repair.
If there’s a problem in the public sewer, the water company is also responsible for investigating and fixing it.
Landlords, Tenants, and Local Authorities
Landlords are generally responsible for drainage repairs in rented properties, unless the damage is caused by tenant misuse.
If drainage issues pose a public health risk or affect multiple properties, then local councils may also become involved.
