A blocked drain is bad enough without a row over who should fix it. The answer depends on where the blockage sits. This guide helps you work that out, so you call the right party first.
Start with the neighbour test
Yorkshire Water gives a simple rule of thumb on its blocked drains page. If your neighbours have similar problems, the blockage is probably in its sewers. If only one room is affected, the blockage is almost certainly in your own pipes. A blockage outside your boundary, or in a pipe you share, can be Yorkshire Water's job since the private sewer transfer in October 2011. If you are unsure, ask Yorkshire Water.
So ask next door before you book anyone. If several homes are backing up, report it to the water company. The water company deals with its own pipes, so you would not normally need a private contractor.
Where your pipes end and the sewer begins
Yorkshire Water's whose pipe is it guide is clear on the cost of repairs. You pay for drains that serve your own home, up to the point where they join a public sewer. Where a drain leaves your boundary, it is the company's job.
Shared drains that serve more than one home are usually the company's job too. This applies even when the pipe runs inside your boundary. If you share a drain with a neighbour, that point matters.
The rules changed on 1 October 2011. Under the Transfer of Private Sewers Regulations, many private sewers and lateral drains passed to the water companies. The Water UK guide shows how this works for detached, semi-detached and shared properties.
Gullies and drains near the road
Leeds City Council cleans about 146,000 gullies on the public highway. Its drains and gullies page says owners must deal with drain problems inside their own boundary. You can report a blocked road gully through the council's online service.
A gully in your own yard is a different case. Because it sits on your land, the drain is normally yours to sort out. Our guide on how to unblock an outside drain covers the first checks.
What usually causes a blockage
Yorkshire Water lists the common causes of sewer problems. They include wipes flushed down the toilet, fat and oil poured down the sink, and tree roots. Heavy rain and a collapsed sewer can also play a part.
Wipes, fat and roots can all build up inside a home's own pipes. That is one reason a single property can block while the street stays clear. A collapse or heavy rain is more likely to hit several homes at once.
If you rent
Yorkshire Water says tenants should contact their landlord about a blocked drain. The landlord can then arrange a drainage engineer. Keep your messages in writing, so you have a record of when you reported it.
What about insurance
If you own your home, check your policy before you pay for a private contractor. Yorkshire Water suggests homeowners check whether home insurance covers drainage problems. It also says to contact your developer if the property is under ten years old.
What to do next
If the blockage is on your side, a drainage engineer can clear it. Describe the symptoms clearly, so the engineer knows what to bring. For example, a toilet that will not flush needs a different approach from a slow outside gully.
Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge, and what happens if the cause turns out to be the water company's pipe. Our complete guide to drains in Leeds explains what to expect from a visit.
Pages that help with your problem
- Blocked drains services for toilets, sinks, baths and outside drains
- Drain unblocking services for clearing a stubborn blockage
- Blocked toilet help when the problem is indoors
- All drain services if you are not sure which one you need
Help by area
- Blocked drains in Leeds and drain help across Leeds
- Blocked drain help in Morley
- Blocked drain help in Horsforth
- Blocked drain help in Wetherby
If you are still unsure whose pipe it is, send a request through the contact form. The form is open 24/7. Say what you can see, and say whether your neighbours have the same problem.