Who is legally responsible for a blocked private drain?

Answer 1

If you live in England the answer is quite simple. Most Local Authorities have bye-laws that cover this eventuality. The people responsible are the owners of all properties affected upstream of the blockage. Generally this will be identified by the Local Authority and each property is billed an equal proportion of the cost. Most owners will be able to claim this expense using their home insurance policies. The cost consist of CCTV investigation to identify where the blockage is, digging down and repairing the sewers, making good the roads/pavements and the cost of traffic lights if used.

Answer 2

The local authority has a statutory duty in the interests of public health to ensure that blocked / foul smelling private drains are cleared and, where appropriate, to recharge the householders for this service. Any recharge is apportioned equally to all households feeding into the sewer up to the point that it is blocked and follows the serving of a notice.

Note that the private drain is the householder's responsibility up to the point it joins the public sewer, even if the point of the blockage is outside the private property.

Answer 3

If the drain belongs to the owner of the house and not shared by anyone else then the onus is on the owner.
If it is council property then the council.
If the drain is shared then each property would be liable to pay an equal share.

Answer 4

Terry!
If the private drain is within your housing compound and found as a major disturbance to the moving commoners by way of bad odour and breeding of certain insects, the local body (the sanitary & hygene division of Public Health Department) has the right to block it prevent under the pretext of "health hazard"..

Answer 5

Assuming we are in the UK as a private drain the owner would be responsible

Answer 6

the legally responsible private drain repair company

Answer 7

It depends on who owns the drain. It might not bre the person who owns the land.

Seek legal advice.

Answer 8

examine your employ thoroughly. you may be to blame. although, even if it is blocked downstream of the resources then it is the neighbour's duty. Dyna Rod are fairly good yet get a sequence fee quote first and a written statement from them afterwards as to the position and the way it became blocked. Then in case you concentration on that the blockage became no longer led to through you, you've written data to strive against any declare you could make. although, i ought to guage that the priority is to get it unblocked.

Answer 9

You are unless the blockage is further along into the main drain for all other properties. Ask your water/sewerage company

Answer 10

Unfortunately you are responsible and your neighbours if you share the drain .The council are responsible if its out side your boundary