Drains - Who is responsible?

[Sir Bagalot]

The Drains serving a block of flats has a rather major problem, a problem that will require a five figure sum to resolve...... Who is responsible for the cost?

The drains date back to before 1937, but they then served the building when it was a hotel. During the early 90's and 00's the hotel was converted to Flats.

So are the drains the responsbility of the local water authority as they were built prior to 1937? Or are they the responsibility of the Flat Owners as the conversions were carried out over the past 20 years?

[mrsxllifts]

Depends which bit of the drains it is and where they are situated, can you be more specific?

[Sir Bagalot]

At this stage I don't know. What I do know is that they're at least 20 metres away from the block, but are used exclusively by the block

[JFReturns]

Outside your perimeter = council. Inside = yours.

[vxsmithers]

JFReturns said:

Outside your perimeter = council. Inside = yours.

not necessarily, I own to the middle of the street with mine unfortunately as it hasn't been adopted by the water company

[tenohfive]

JFReturns said:

Outside your perimeter = council. Inside = yours.

If only it were that simple.

Any stretch of drain that only serves your property is your responsibility, up until the point it joins the main or connects onto your neighbours drains (in the case of shared drainage, where several properties drainage joins together before running on to the main drain.) The main drains are the responsibility of the drainage supplier for the most part - the main exception I can think of being new build estates where the drainage supplier hasn't yet adopted the mains from the developers.

Shared drainage that is pre-1937 and not altered is adopted by the drainage supplier (i.e Thames/Anglian etc) as ex Section 24 drains. Any other shared drains are the responsibility of those properties served by them IIRC.

I've been out of the business for a few years so I'm a little rusty on properties that have been divided up such as in this case. Ringing the drainage supplier and telling them there is a blockage is one answer. They'll send someone out to check if it's on a stretch of drain they're responsible for, and if there's some doubt a job will be raised for someone with a bit more know-how (sometimes) to investigate.

The council have little to do with drains, except in council houses - council tenants can call them out to clear private or shared drains, owners of ex council houses can't (although if a council tenant neighbour is on the same shared drain run and they call the council they're obliged to clear it.) They are responsible for the road side gullies though.

[JFReturns]

Oh. Ignore me, they know what they are talking about^