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Drains and sewers
Blocked drain/sewer, what to do?

Blocked drains and sewers In addition to the public sewers, on 1 October 2011, Thames Water became responsible for all sections of private sewers that are shared by two or more properties. In general, this means Thames Water is now responsible for maintaining, repairing and clearing blockages to sewers serving two or more properties.

However, Thames Water is not responsible for:
  • waste pipes above ground;
  • drains serving only one property
  • sewers or drains serving and within the boundary of a multiple dwellings (e.g. flats);
Further information can be viewed at www.thameswater.co.uk/privatesewers (extneral website)

Tenants

You should inform your landlord as soon as possible and ask him to arrange to unblock it.  If you think the blockage is on a shared sewer then you can contact Thames Water on 0845 9200 800 but you should also let your landlord know of the problem.

Owner occupiers

If you think the blockage is on a shared sewer then you can contact Thames Water on 0845 9200 800. If the blockage is on a section of pipe work serving only a single property, Thames Water may be able to unblock it, but there is normally a charge. Alternatively, you can arrange a private contractor to carry out the work. We would advise you to get a quote beforehand. You may consider selecting a local company from the ‘Check A Trade’ website (external website).

Blockage inside a property

This is a private matter for which the occupier or owner are responsible.  If the blockage is in pipe work shared between two or more flats of a property, then all the owners or occupiers will usually have joint responsibility.  In a private block of flats it is normally the managing company’s responsibility to maintain the drains and sewers within their ground.

If there is a dispute about sharing the costs of unblocking or repairing drains or sewers, the Council can serve a legal notice on the owners or occupiers of the affected properties requiring them to unblock or repair the drain or sewer.  Normally two working days are given to comply with the notice.  If the notice is not complied with, the Council can arrange for a private contractor to carry out the works.  The Council will then recover the cost of the works along with an administration charge from the property owners/occupiers.

Neighbour’s property

If you suspect the sewer or drain in your neighbour’s property is block, you may want to let them know. If your neighbour is responsible and they are not taking any actions to remove the blockage, then you can ask Environmental Health to intervene by phoning 01784 446 251.

The Council will always treat complainants’ details confidentially and not reveal them.  A Council officer will investigate and determine if the responsibility rests with the owner or Thames Water.

If necessary, the Council will serve a legal notice on the property owner or occupier requiring them to unblock the drain or sewer; normally giving two working days to comply with the notice.  If the notice is not complied with, the Council can arrange with a private contractor to carry out the work in default, in which case costs of the work plus an administration charge will be recoverable from the property owner or occupier.

Ex-Council Dwellings

The Council is not responsible for maintaining drains in ex-Council Dwellings. If the problem affects only one house then the current owner will be responsible. If the problem affects more than one house then Thames Water will be responsible.

Structural defects

Blockages can be caused by defects in the pipes underground, including displaced joints, tree root penetration or collapse due to ground movement.  Defects can also occur without causing a blockage; this can cause soil adjacent to the pipe to be washed away.  In some cases it can cause further damage to the surrounding parts of a property; rats can travel from the damaged pipe and enter a property from the cracks.

If the defect is in a shared sewer serving more than one property, then the defect should be reported to Thames Water on 0845 9200 800.

If the defect is on a section of pipe serving one house only, then the owner or occupier will be responsible for carrying out repairs.  If the owner does not carry out the necessary repairs the Council can, by the service of a notice, legally require the person responsible to repair any defects within a certain date.  If the requirements of the notice are not complied with, the Council can arrange with a private contractor to carry out the work in default, in which case costs of the work plus an administration charge will be recoverable from the property owner

What is a drain/sewer?

A drain is a pipe which conveys either foul water (sink / bath / toilet etc.) or surface water (rain) from one house only.

  • up to the boundary of the property, the owner or occupier of a house is responsible for maintaining the drains serving the property.  Maintaining includes clearing blockages and repairing any faults

  • a sewer is a pipe which takes away waste water from more than one house. In general, Thames Water is responsible for maintaining sewers in Spelthorne
Maintenance

Drains and sewers are generally designed to be self cleaning, but like all other parts of a building, they should be maintained correctly:-
Do
  • examine the system periodically to find out if any repairs are needed, particularly to manholes, ensuring that covers and frames are secure.
  • lift manhole covers on occasions, and hose down or jet wash
  • check for water overflowing from the gully or manhole covers
  • clear any blockages or partial blockages, ideally any solids should be lifted out and thrown away with domestic waste after double wrapping.
Do not
  • damage the drains and do not obstruct the manhole access when carrying out major building work, such as building an extension,
  • put nappies and other items down the toilet even if the product label says it is flushable.
  • pour cooking fat or oil into the sink or drains, they will solidify and cause blockages
  • misconnect surface water (rain) and foul water (e.g. from kitchen sink, toilet and shower) systems when carrying building work.
Further information