Are your drains being a pain?

Drainage may be combined.  This means that several houses share one connection to the mains, and up to the point where that main becomes the responsibility of the appropriate authority, all persons using it are liable to contribute equally to its maintenance.

A Drainage Search, which now forms part of the HIP Package, confirms whether the property is on mains drainage or connected to a septic tank.  It would also give a plan showing the line of the services. 

If the water company bill includes a charge for sewerage services, then they are responsible for the public sewer that serves your property.  However, the drain that connects your property to the public sewer is still your responsibility right up to the point of connection with the public sewer.  This could include lengths of drain outside your property boundary – even under the road.  Your ownership and responsibility for drains do not stop at your property boundary. 

In some cases the water company as part of the public sewerage system has not adopted the drains and it remains a private (i.e. unadopted) sewer and you share responsibility with any neighbours who connect to the same sewer.