Who Is Responsible for a Blocked Drain?
Find the likely first contact for a blocked drain at your business or site. If the route or ownership is unclear, talk to us about investigation and clearance.
Call 0333 533 0162
Not sure where the blockage is? Tell us what is happening. We can discuss an inspection and the right next step.
Ask usDrainage services
How can we help?
Complete the form and we will get back to you.
Private drains and public sewers
Who to contact depends on the pipe, its use and where it runs. A private drain may be the owner’s responsibility, while a public sewer is usually dealt with by the sewerage company. The tool suggests a first contact; it does not decide liability or payment.
Business and rented premises
At a commercial site, lease terms, shared drainage and landlord or facilities arrangements may affect who authorises private work. Tell us the symptoms and who manages the site. You can ask for help while those details are being checked.
An unclear drainage route
The place where water appears does not always identify the blocked pipe. We can carry out drain inspections and CCTV surveys to help investigate private drainage. If the result points to a public sewer, contact the sewerage company before commissioning private work.
An active blockage or flooding
If sewage flooding may involve a public sewer, contact the relevant sewerage company promptly and keep people away from contaminated water. Do not enter chambers. For private drainage, contact us about investigation and clearance. Completing this checker is optional.
Common questions
Can I contact you without completing the tool?
Not sure where the blockage is? Tell us what is happening. We can discuss an inspection and the right next step. You can enquire directly; completing the tool is optional.
Is a shared drain always the sewerage company's responsibility?
No. Many shared sewers connected to the public network transferred to sewerage companies in 2011, but private systems, later connections and excluded assets need separate checks. Ask the sewerage company to check the affected pipe rather than relying only on where a cover is located.
My neighbour's drain is flooding my garden. Who should I call?
Contact the sewerage company if a shared or public sewer may be involved. Record what you can see safely and tell the neighbour. Water or sewage appearing in your garden does not by itself show where the blockage is or who is responsible for it.
Who clears a blocked drain in the road?
A road gully collecting rainwater on an adopted public road is generally a highway authority matter. A public foul or surface water sewer beneath the road may instead be a sewerage company matter. Report the location and say whether sewage appears to be involved. Do not lift the cover.
Can someone renting a home arrange a drain contractor directly?
Report the problem to the landlord or managing agent first unless their emergency arrangements say otherwise. Keep a record of what was reported and ask who is authorising the work. This checker does not establish a right to reimbursement or decide who is liable for the blockage.
What if the sewerage company says the pipe is private?
Ask the company to explain which section it considers private and keep the reference number. A drainage plan or CCTV report may help show the pipe route and connections. If you still dispute the company's position, use its complaints process and, where appropriate, seek help from CCW.
Sources and limits
This checker gives an initial indication of who to contact. It does not establish pipe ownership, legal liability or a right to reimbursement. The sewerage company and relevant drainage records should be used to confirm the pipe's status. A lease, tenancy or occupation contract may also affect repair and payment obligations. The 2011 private sewer transfer described here applies to England and Wales.
- CCW: responsibility for drains and sewers
England and Wales
- Ofwat: transfer of private sewers
Transfer dates and company ownership
- Defra: private sewer transfer guidance
Eligibility and exclusions
- Water UK: find your water and sewerage supplier
Separate supplier lookup
- GOV.UK: repairs in privately rented homes
Private rented housing repair guidance
- Welsh Government: fitness for human habitation and repair duties
Wales; guidance for contract-holders
- Ofwat: public and private sewers
Includes highway drainage responsibilities
- Dwr Cymru Welsh Water: sewer adoption and connection
Later adoption arrangements in the Welsh Water operating area
- Scottish Water: your pipes
Scotland; private drains and public sewers
- NI Water: reporting sewer flooding
Northern Ireland; reporting a suspected public sewer blockage
Published by Drain Unblocking. Sources checked 13 September 2026. Editorial policy.
If a result appears wrong, please tell us so we can check it against the listed sources.
Talk to us about the work
Not sure where the blockage is? Tell us what is happening. We can discuss an inspection and the right next step.