UK Plumber Forum

[Tony Fisher]

I have a partially blocked sewage drain and probable break in pipe. Just 1m of the pipe is on my own property and then it runs about 5m through my neighbours garden to a manhole in a shared carpark for 5 houses. In the manhole I can see my pipe and also my neighbours that joins it at that point. A camera (my own set up) reveals my pipe is 90% blocked about 1m into the pipe from that manhole underneath my neighbours garden. Water is not flowing so I assume it's escaping in a leak and leaving the solid stuff behind. This section of pipe only runs to my house. My plan is to unblock the pipe if possible but who is responsible for any repairs?
My water company "Anglia Water" seems to contradict itself with these two statements-

"Public sewers and drains. In most cases we’re responsible for the large sewers running under roads and pavements and the drains above them. Due to a law change in 2011, the sections of sewers and pipes you share with your neighbours, plus pipes outside your property boundary connecting to our existing network, are now our responsibility."

"Private sewers and drains. These are pipes within your property boundary (ie beneath your house, garden and driveway), and ones that take away flows from your property only to where they connect to pipework serving your neighbours. "

The latter suggests that since the section of pipe blocked only serves my house I am responsible but the former contradicts.

[REDSAW]

Hi, if its a shared drain then its the water suppliers problem.
ie, your drain needs to come from your property directly onto public boundary to be yours alone. Any drainage that is shared trough your property is water carriers.
costs nothing to get them out to survey the problem but thier first response is usually -you have to pay.- challenge it and they usually give in and get repairing it.

[Tony Fisher]

Thanks. No part of the drain where the issue is is shared so I guess I am responsible. Even though the issue is under my neighbour's garden.

[Tony Fisher]

Just to share the outcome. Rods and a hose cleared the blockage and there's no sign of damage. I was able to take photos from each end and although there are certainly some uneven areas nothing major is visible. So for now at least it's been sorted without additional help.