Who Pays for a Blocked Drain?

Before October 2011, homeowners in England and Wales were often responsible for the full length of the drain running from their property, sometimes all the way to the public sewer under the street — even sections running under a neighbour's garden or a road. That changed with the private sewer transfer, and it still causes confusion when a drain blocks.

What changed in 2011

Most previously private drains and sewers that were shared between properties, or that crossed into a public area, transferred to the ownership of the local water company — United Utilities, here in the North West. If your blockage sits on a transferred section, United Utilities is responsible for clearing it, not you.

What's still your responsibility

• The pipework inside your property boundary that serves only your home
• A private drain that doesn't connect to a shared or public sewer
• Blockages caused by something put down your own drain (fat, wipes, etc.)

What's likely United Utilities' responsibility

• A shared drain serving more than one property, beyond your boundary
• A public sewer under the street
• Sections transferred under the 2011 private sewer transfer

How we handle it

When we attend a blockage, we check where it sits before quoting. If it's on a section that's United Utilities' responsibility, we'll tell you honestly and help you report it to them rather than charging you for work that isn't yours to pay for.