Shared Drain Responsibility UK

Since October 2011, most shared drains and private sewers in England and Wales transferred to the ownership of local water and sewerage companies. This means that if a drain serves more than one property, it's likely the water company's responsibility to repair.

What to Look For

• A shared drain serves two or more properties
• Pre-2011, shared drains were the joint responsibility of connected properties
• Post-2011 transfer applies to drains that were shared before July 2011
• New shared drains built after 2011 may have different rules
• The water company maintains a sewer map showing adopted drains

How We Diagnose the Problem

We use CCTV surveys and drain tracing to determine whether a drain is shared or private. We can reference water company sewer maps and provide a clear diagram showing which drains are yours and which belong to the water authority.

How We Fix It

If the problem is in a shared/transferred drain, we help you report it to your water company with CCTV evidence. If it's in a private section, we provide repair options. We can also advise on disputes between neighbours about drainage responsibility.