Examples to help you determine who is responsible

Diagram A

In this example the household drain flows straight into a public sewer without any other properties joining it. If a blockage occurs anywhere in this private drain it is your responsibility to clear and repair. Most properties have some length of private drain.

Diagram B

Drains from two properties may join together and form a private sewer, and then run some distance before connecting with the public sewer. If a blockage or defect occurs at point X in the private sewer system the owners of the two properties would be responsible for rectifying the problem. If the blockage occurs before the two property drains join up then the individual property is responsible.

Diagram C

This shows how all the drains from a block of houses may link up before running into a public sewer. This could even be an entire estate and be some considerable distance.

Present legislation dictates that the owners or occupiers of homes above the point of the blockage or defect - whichever properties effluent flows through that point - are responsible. Therefore a blockage at point Y would only involve properties four, five and six. A blockage at point Z would involve all six properties.