Who is responsible for a shared drain?
In England and Wales many lateral drains and shared sewers transferred to water companies, but circumstances matter.
Read the guide →
DrainUK topic library
Drain ownership & responsibilities
Private drains, shared sewers and investigations.
Choose your drainage question
Read the relevant guide to understand the clues, alternatives and what a contractor should investigate.
Who pays for a blocked drain?
Responsibility can depend on whether the obstruction is in private drainage or a public sewer.
Read the guide →How do I find out if my drain is public?
Drainage records, site inspection and the number of properties served can help establish status.
Read the guide →Are drains covered by buildings insurance?
Cover depends on policy wording, cause of damage and exclusions for wear and deterioration.
Read the guide →What should I do if sewage floods my garden?
Foul-water flooding presents contamination risks and may involve private or public sewers.
Read the guide →Can my neighbour's drain cause problems?
Shared drainage defects can affect several properties even where symptoms appear at one address.
Read the guide →What happens during an emergency drain callout?
An urgent visit should first control overflow, locate the blockage and assess whether further repairs are needed.
Read the guide →Not sure which section you need?
Start with the symptom you can see, rather than assuming an underground pipe is broken.
Start with your symptoms →