Who Is Responsible For Blocked Drains? | Express Drainage Surveys

The last thing anyone needs is to flush a toilet or run a tap only to find that the water actually backs up into the property. When this happens, it means there is a blockage in your drainage system, and it can cause no end of disruption.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to get to work and get the kids to school or a business owner trying to make a living, blocked drains will clog up your day and cause hygiene issues (not to mention damaging your property).

So, who is responsible for getting the system unblocked? Well, that depends. There are many factors to consider, not least those surrounding property ownership and where exactly the blockage is located within the system. This month at Express Drainage Surveys, we’re here to guide you through establishing who is responsible for a blocked drain if you have this issue on your property.

Understanding your drainage responsibility

First and foremost, there are some basic principles to drainage responsibilities you should understand. There are private drains, which are those drains on your property solely used by you, and then public sewers, which are where your drains, and other properties, will direct wastewater towards.

Sometimes, you may find that a drain is in fact a shared drain and not just in use by the one property before it reaches the sewer system. We’ve covered who is responsible for shared drains in a recent piece, as the law has changed. Essentially, water companies are now responsible for shared drains in order to avoid disputes between properties when it comes to maintaining them.

Homeowners or water companies – who is responsible?

If you’re a homeowner and you’re looking to establish whether a blockage in your drains is down to you to clear, here is how to figure it out. Your drains, those within the boundary of your property up to the point when they connect to the public sewer, as your responsibility.

To unblock your drains safely, you’ll need the help of a professional drainage company. At Express Drainage Surveys, we can help to pinpoint the exact location of the blockage and deploy the right solution to get your system moving again.

If the blockage is within a lateral drain beyond the property boundary, then it’s the responsibility of your local water company. Sometimes, if the blockage is impacting the local drainage system and public roads, there may be cases where it is the responsibility of the local authority.

Tenant or landlord – who is responsible?

If you’re a renter or a landlord and there is a blocked drain at the property, you could be scratching your head and wondering who is responsible for taking care of sorting the situation out.

Landlords are going to be the likely party responsible for maintaining drains and ensuring they comply with tenancy agreements. This, however, is only the case for structural issues or blockages caused by external factors. If the tenant has caused a blockage through misuse of the drains – e.g. by flushing inappropriate items down drains or pouring grease and fat down the drains – then it could be the tenant who has to pay for the unblocking to be carried out.

If you’re a tenant, it’s important to raise any issues with your landlord promptly to ensure that the system can be unblocked as quickly as possible and to ensure you’re not falling foul of the rules set out in your tenancy agreement.

Businesses and commercial properties – who is responsible?

If you own a business and you’ve found that your operations are being hampered by a blocked drain, then fixing the situation should be a top priority. Whether you run a hospitality business and it’s putting off customers or you have an office and can’t use basic facilities, there is always an impact.

In most cases, the responsibility will fall to the landlord or property management company to unblock drains. Leaseholders, much like tenants, will only be responsible for making sure that their activities do not cause the blockages. For example, a restaurant should not be pouring oils away down drains.

How to prevent blocked drains

One of the best ways to avoid having to even think about who is responsible for blocked drains is to do your best to prevent them in the first place. Here are our three top tips for avoiding issues whether you’re a homeowner, tenant or a business owner:

Stick to proper waste disposal methods. While flushing wipes down the toilet and pouring oil down the sink can seem convenient in the moment, it’s a surefire way to create a blockage within your system. And, whether it forms on your property or further along in the system, it will create a problem sooner or later for you and potentially for your neighbours.
Book regular maintenance. Investing in inspections and maintenance from drainage professionals can help you stay on top of any drainage issues. This means that, long term, you’re less likely to end up with costly repairs and the headache of figuring out who is responsible.
Be vigilant for early signs of issues. Most drainage issues don’t just happen overnight, a blockage can show itself in the form of bad smells and slow-draining sinks, toilets and showers. The sooner you identify this, the easier it will be to do something about it without having to take drastic measures.

What should I do first if my drain is blocked?

The first thing you should do if you think your drain is blocked is to take steps to diagnose what the issue is and where you think the blockage is exactly. At Express Drainage Surveys, we offer CCTV drain surveys for businesses and homeowners alike, helping you to establish where a blockage is within the system and how large it is. From here, our team can recommend the best steps to resolve the problem.

As part of our comprehensive services, we can offer:

Contact us today for expert assistance when you have a blocked drain, whether you need to understand whether it’s your responsibility or you need help getting rid of it.