When you buy a house, a key part of the process involves establishing ownership of drainage facilities. This can be a complex area and solicitors tend to lead this work. It’s important to understand what lateral drains are and who is responsible for what in the nuanced field of property ownership and sewerage responsibility.
What are lateral drains?
These drains run outside the boundary of a property, usually under roads or pavements, where they connect to the primary sewer. They are there to carry away all kinds of wastewater from different properties, unlike private drains, which are there to serve one property within those boundaries.
Who is responsible for lateral drains?
The responsibility for this was laid down by key legislative updates in October 2011 which shifted the responsibility for lateral drains and private sewers to the local water companies in the UK. This means that if you suspect an issue, you don’t need to commission CCTV drain surveys Ascot yourself from providers such as www.drainpower.co.uk/drainage-services/cctv-drain-surveys/ascot as the local water or sewerage company should take over the work.
Where is my nearest lateral drain?
If there is a drain serving your property outside of its private boundary, it is very likely to be a lateral drain and form part of the public system for wastewater management. In this case, it will be owned by the local water company. By knowing who is responsible for what drain, you can work out who needs to maintain it. If you want to find out who is responsible for repairing sewers, water pipes, and drains, OFWAT can help.
Who will repair a lateral rain?
Since 2011, repairs and maintenance of lateral drains and private sewers now mainly fall to local water and sewerage companies for each area of the UK. This change was put in place to unify sewer management in the UK and to reduce the financial burden on homeowners. However, it’s important to know that the drains within your property’s own boundary are your responsibility, unless they connect to a public sewer or lateral drain.
