Drains & Sewers

Responsibilities

Since October 2011, water companies in England and Wales took over responsibility for the maintenance and repair of all sewers and also lateral drains. The change means you or your landlord are now only responsible for the private drain which serves your own property within your boundary. A sewer is a pipe which is shared by more than one property. A lateral drain as a pipe serving a single property which is outside your boundary. It may run across your neighbours property or into the road but it will still be the water authorities responsibility. The new rules will stop you being charged for costly repairs for issues that aren't your fault.

As well as the private drains serving a single home or business within the boundary of the property, there are a few other types of pipes that are not covered by the Regulations and remain the responsibility of the current owners. These are:

Water supply pipes within your property

boundary

Existing surface water sewers that drain directly

to watercourses

Privately owned sewage treatment works and

pipes connected to them

Privately owned septic tanks and cesspits

(including all associated pipes even if serving

more than one property)

Private pumping stations

If you have a problem related to the above you should contact Severn Trent Water or Yorkshire Water.

Blocked Drains

How do I know if my drain is blocked?

If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or gullies outside will overflow. There will also probably be a smell.

Usual causes of blocked drains include, flushing away of wipes, disposable nappies, plastic bags, cooking fats and oils, washing away DIY products or tree roots entering a broken drain.

How do I report a blocked drain?

If you think you have a blocked drain, then please telephone our Contact Centres immediately on 01246 242424.

We no longer attend to blockages in drains serving private properties. Private customers are advised to contact their Water Authority in the first instance to determine if the blockage is in the public sewer or private drain, even if located within the boundary of their property. If the Water Authority determines that the problem is in the private drain then you will need to arrange and pay for a private contractor to attend. We cannot recommend specific contractors, so we would advise you to look through the relevant business directories.
Council owned properties

As a responsible landlord, we will continue to attend to blockages in Council properties and these should be reported to us by completing the on-line enquiry form on our website or ringing 01246 242424.

If we suspect the blockage lies in a public sewer we will contact the Water Authority otherwise we will attend to the blockage ourselves.

Blockages in public sewers should be reported to your relevant water authority.

  • Severn Trent water - 0800 783 4444
  • Yorkshire Water - 08451 242429

Our standards are

  • To aim to attend to your blocked drain within 24 hours of receiving your request.
  • To offer helpful advice and clarify who is responsible.

July 2015