Who owns your drainage system?
Whether you are actually responsible or not for the drainage system in and around your home is often a confusing subject for homeowners. Here are some frequently occurring issues when it comes to drain ownership and repairs.
How do I find out who’s responsible for my drainage system?
Within the boundary of your property, most but not all of the pipes will be the responsibility of the homeowner. You can check which pipes are your responsibility by checking your deeds or by contacting your water company or local authority. OFWAT, the water regulator for England and Wales, states that sewerage companies are responsible for public sewers and drains, even if they run underneath your garden. Property owners have the responsibility for the drains until they meet the public sewers at the boundary of their property.
If you own the property, who pays for drain repairs?
If your home is detached, there will be private soil and surface water drains which run from the house to the boundary of your property. If this drain needs repairing, it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to get it fixed. However, if your home is either semi-detached or part of a terrace, the drains may be shared over a number of properties. Legislation was passed in October 2011, which ensures that shared drains are now the responsibility of the local authority, so if a shared drain needs repairing, you won’t have to pay. For drain repairs or sewer pipe lining in Wolverhampton, specialists such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-wolverhampton can offer help and advice.
Does the homeowner have to pay for sewer repairs?
In the large majority of cases, no, a homeowner does not have to pay for sewer repairs as sewerage companies are responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. However, if your property is connected to a private or unadopted sewer, this may cause a problem. You can ask for a private sewer to be adopted by a sewerage company that may agree to take it on. If they don’t agree, you can appeal to OFWAT to help you challenge the decision.