Not many people know as from October 1st 2011, property owners are no longer responsible for certain parts of the sewer pipes, that are connected to their homes and the public sewer system. The responsibility for the pipes was transferred to the Sewerage companies. The Government wants it made clear through the legislation about the ownership and better long-term maintenance for the sewer network. They are now broken down as public sewers (owned and maintained by the sewerage companies) and private drains (the responsibility of property owners). Private drains are drains within the boundaries of the private property. By calling your local Sewerage Company before calling a contractor if you aren’t sure whether it’s public or private, could save you money in the long run.
Please see below some pictures that may help clarify things:
What happens if it’s shared responsibility?
Unfortunately after establishing the sewer/drainage is shared it’s not always easy to get your neighbours to except shared responsibility. They may deny responsibility or refuse to pay. If negotiations with the neighbour concerned have reached an impasse you could contact the EHO (Environmental Health Officers). They have experience with helping with this type of problem and may be able to help all parties reach an agreement suitable to all involved.
If you are having a drainage issue and need an affordable and local plumber in London, contact Plumb London today!
Simple things that could help prevent blockage or damages to your drains:
Take care in what you push, pour or flush down your drains or sewers. There is the list of items that should never be put down a drain or directly in to the sewer system.
- Cement
- Rubble
- Concrete
- Stones
- Paint
- Engine Oil
- Chemicals
- Fats
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Nappies or Baby Wipes
- Sanitary Products
- Condoms
- Animal Waste
- Waste food
We know the list above seems quite silly and you would think a lot of it was commonsense, but you would be shocked at what people will dispose of down the toilet/sink/sewer just cause it seems to be quick and the simplest thing to do. It may seem like that until it causes a blockage and they have to foot the bill. Sometimes these things can be dealt with in an hour and are simply in need of a good plunging and proper blockage chemicals. Thou this isn’t always the case, there may be cause for having to use CCTV equipment and this will incur further charges to just labour costs. These issues occur across the country and have see recently seen drainage issues in West London, Central London, South East London and North London.
Useful Links:
http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/government/public_services/8933.html
http://www.unitedutilities.com/sewers-and-drains-explained.aspx
http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/household/water-recycling-services/sewers-and-drains.aspx
