Who Is Responsible for a Collapsed Drain?

The responsibility for a collapsed drain in England depends on a variety of factors, such as where the collapse is, whether the pipe is a private, shared or lateral drain and who the pipe serves.

It is always the responsibility of either the homeowner, your neighbours, water and sewage companies or the local authority – and this is partly why there is so much confusion around the topic. But here at Express Drainage Surveys, we can help you identify ownership and provide evidential CCTV reports that support your repair decisions and any insurance claims when it comes to a collapsed drain.

That’s why this month, we’re looking at collapsed drains in more detail, walking you through the different scenarios, definitions and next steps.

What is a collapsed drain?

While it might seem like overkill, let’s begin by defining what a collapsed drain is before we assign any responsibility. You might find that the drainage issues you have don’t actually align with a collapsed drain, saving you a lot of potential hassle.

The difference between a partially collapsed drain and a full collapse is hard to judge sometimes without CCTV drain survey evidence, but here are the common causes of collapsed drains:

Older drains and those which have deteriorated – especially clay pipes – are usually more at risk.
Ground movement or any subsidence around your property can force pipes to move and potentially break them due to the pressure.
Tree root ingress causes blockages, but if enough roots weaken the pipes, whole portions could end up caving in.
Poor installation or historic building work can damage pipework without you knowing, leading to trouble later down the line.
Heavy vehicles or building an extension can add too much weight to pipes, causing them to yield under the pressure.

There are all sorts of warning signs that you can be on the lookout for, including slow drainage inside your house, recurring blockages, bad odours coming from drains, sinkholes or damp patches within your garden or internal flooding of your property. These all indicate that, potentially, the drainage system has collapsed somewhere, creating issues.

A collapsed drain is more serious than a simple blockage, so it’s worth being vigilant – it’s also what leads people to ask “who is responsible for a collapsed drain?”.

Understanding drain and sewer ownership in England

Drain ownership is probably something most people never give much thought to, so it can be quite confusing, especially since the rules changed in October 2011. It was that rule change which meant responsibility for many shared drains and sewers was transferred to the water companies.

Since that point, responsibility has been determined by what the pipe serves and where it runs, instead of it just boiling down to whose land it sits on. To get to the bottom of who is responsible for a collapsed drain, we’ll need to look at the different types of drains.

What is a private drain?

Private drains are those which serve only one property. They usually run from the property out to the point where it connects with another drain or sewer system. This will be the case for most modern homes.

Who is responsible for collapsed private drains? The answer is that the homeowner themselves is responsible for the private drains, and is therefore also responsible for any investigation, repair and maintenance work. Some insurance policies may cover some or all of the costs, depending on the provider and the cause of the collapse.

What is a shared drain?

A shared drain is one that serves more than one property, but has not yet reached the public sewer. This could be a connected drain pipe that collects wastewater from two neighbouring properties because of their proximity. An example of this would be terraced housing, semi-detached properties or blocks of flats.

Who is responsible for a collapsed shared drain? At one time, it would have been the joint responsibility of the properties that the drain serves. However, this was the root of many disputes, and it is now more common for shared drains to be the responsibility of water companies. It would therefore fall to them to arrange the repair or replacement of any collapses.

What is a lateral drain?

A lateral drain is the section of pipe that travels from the boundary of a property to the public sewer. This connecting element is typically beneath the pavements, roads or neighbouring land.

Who is responsible for a collapsed lateral drain? In England, it is the responsibility of the local water and sewerage company to maintain lateral drains – not homeowners. This is commonly an area of confusion, as some homeowners may assume they are responsible for drains which fall outside their boundary. However, as a rule of thumb, once the pipe leaves the property boundary, the responsibility transfers.

What is a public sewer?

A public sewer is exactly as it sounds; it serves multiple properties, connecting all the individual drainage systems into one so that it can travel to the same treatment facility.

Who is responsible for a collapsed public sewer? Because the public sewer is the responsibility of the water and sewage company, they are fully liable for the investigation, repair and maintenance.

You should never attempt to repair a public sewer yourself. Instead, report any suspected collapses directly to the water company. This will prompt them to send their teams out to assess and implement any necessary repairs.

How professional drainage surveys determine responsibility

A professional CCTV drainage survey is the fastest and most reliable way to determine who is responsible for a collapsed drain. It will show accurate identification of where the collapse has occurred so that you can see whether it falls inside or outside of your property boundary.

At Express Drainage Surveys, we provide this dedicated service, alongside a variety of other drainage services which can help with any issues you’re facing at your property. Whether you need to establish responsibility for a collapsed drain or anything else, please view our services: