Who Is Responsible For Blocked Sewer Pipes In Cumbria

If you live in Cumbria, then you know the inconvenience of a blocked sewer. Sewer blockages can be caused by several factors, including grease buildup, tree roots, and foreign objects. When these things happen, the question that arises is, who is responsible for the blocked sewer pipes in Cumbria? In this landing page, we will discuss the different factors that determine responsibility and help you understand what to do when you encounter such situations.

Introduction

Drainage Cumbria is a blocked sewer company in Cumbria. We specialize in unblocking drains and providing expert drainage solutions to our clients. Our team of professionals is knowledgeable about the laws and regulations governing blocked sewers in Cumbria, and we have years of experience handling such cases. Whenever our clients have blocked sewer problems, we are always ready to assist them. In this landing page, we will look at different factors that determine who is responsible for the blocked sewers in Cumbria, including drainage, insurance, laterals, shared responsibility, water, roads, and property.

Drain Responsibility

The responsibility for maintaining and repairing drains rests with the property owner. The property owner is responsible for their drain from the point of connection to the main sewer. The main sewer is the responsibility of the local water company. Designated as a "lateral drain," this section can be anything from a few meters upwards of tens of meters. Hence, if you are experiencing a blocked drain, you should investigate where the blockage is occurring. If it is in the lateral drain, it is the water company's responsibility to fix the issue. However, if the blockage is in your property's drain, then it is your responsibility to get it fixed.

Insurance Responsibility

Some people may be confused about who is responsible for blocked sewers when it comes to their insurance policies. Generally, home insurance policies do not cover blocked sewer problems. However, some insurance policies may include coverage for blocked sewers, so it is best to read your policy carefully to understand what it covers. This is important to remember as it can affect whether you pay for repairs or not.

Shared Responsibility

When properties are sharing a lateral drain, each property owner shares the responsibility of its upkeep. It is essential to note that each property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing their drain's private section until it reaches the point of connection to the lateral drain. The lateral drain is the shared responsibility of all the property owners. Therefore, maintenance and repairs of the lateral are shared by all the property owners.

Water Authority Responsibility

In Cumbria, the water authority is responsible for the main public sewerage system. The water authority is responsible for maintaining and repairing the public sewerage system's lateral drains and sewers. Therefore, if the sewer blockage occurs in the main public sewer system, the water authority will be responsible for clearing the blockage. However, it is important to determine whether the blockage occurred in the main public sewer system before contacting the water company as it will likely incur charges for investigating what may be a property owner's responsibility issue.

Road Responsibility

The responsibility for repairing sewers that run beneath roads is often challenging to determine. In most cases, highways authorities are responsible for maintaining sewers that run beneath roads. However, if the problem is caused by a blockage in a private drain, it is the responsibility of the property owner to get it fixed. The best course of action is to contact the responsible authority to determine who is responsible for the repair.

Property Responsibility

As mentioned earlier, the property owner is responsible for maintaining their drain up to the point of connection to the main sewer. If the blockage occurs in this section or the property owner's lateral drain, it falls to the property owner to fix the problem. Additionally, property owners must also ensure they are doing what they can to prevent blockages from happening in the first place. This may involve regular maintenance of their drains and disposal of drains properly.

Conclusion

In summary, determining who is responsible for blocked sewer pipes in Cumbria is essential in resolving the issue as quickly and efficiently as possible. At Drainage Cumbria, we are experts in handling blocked sewer problems, and we are here to assist you whenever you need help. Remember to investigate where the blockage is before contacting authorities, as it may likely be your responsibility to fix. Additionally, ensuring good maintenance practices can help prevent issues from occurring in the first place. If you encounter any problem with your drainage, contact us at Drainage Cumbria on 01228 734162 or via our website drainagecumbria.uk, and we will gladly assist you.