What transferred in 2011
Before 1 October 2011, many shared drains were the owners’ responsibility. On that date, private sewers and lateral drains in England and Wales passed to the water companies. Private sewers serve more than one property, while lateral drains serve one property but lie outside its boundary.
Pipes that were connected to the public sewer by 1 July 2011 moved over. New pipes built since then may follow different rules. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems, so this guide does not cover them.
What remains your responsibility
The drain inside your property boundary, which serves only your home, is usually your job to look after. This includes the pipes from your house to the boundary and any chambers on your land. If you share a drain with a neighbour inside a boundary, ask your water company how it is classed.
When a problem occurs outside your boundary, contact your water company. When it occurs inside, you usually pay. If you are unsure, ask the company to confirm.
Why this still causes confusion
The transfer did not change where the pipes run, so nothing looks different. Only the owner changed. Many people ring the water company about a drain on their own land, because they assume the transfer covered everything, yet the water company may not own it.
Others assume a drain that crosses a neighbour’s land is a shared sewer. It may not be, if it serves only one home. A camera survey and the water company’s records can settle the question.
It also helps to know your boundary. Look at your deeds or title plan, because they show where your land ends. Ask your solicitor if the plan is unclear, since drain ownership often follows the boundary.
If in doubt, get a survey
Before you pay for a repair to an underground drain, find out who owns the pipe. Ask your water company for its records. A solicitor’s drainage search can also show where public sewers run.
A camera survey shows the condition and the route. Then you can show the water company exactly where the fault is. You can ask for a free quote on our site, and we will pass your details to a local engineer.
