Disclaimer

Am I as a householder responsible for my drains?

Householders and businesses are responsible for their own private drainage systems – currently up to the connection point with either

• the main sewer (which can be out under the middle of the highway)
• A Section 24 sewer
• A private shared drain with multiple users

Aren’t the Council responsible for clearing my drains?

The council is no longer responsible for the maintenance of the public sewerage network, this is the direct responsibility of the local water company i.e United Utilities or Welsh Water etc. The council highways dept. are still responsible for maintenance of the highway surface water drainage systems though. The council has never been responsible for clearing private household drains unless on one of its own owned council estate properties

Can I claim from my insurance company ?

There are no hard and fast rules on this, as it is subject to the type of policy cover, the insurance company policy, type of drainage system damage etc. However, I have had good claim success rates whilst representing my clients (independently) liaising with their insurance companies on their behalf, mainly due to my professionally qualified and trustworthy status. Again as per FAQ7, the approach I adopt is to act in the best interests of the ‘property’ as to remain truly independent.

What is a Section 24 sewer ?

A section 24 sewer is defined as a public sewer if the drain in question is shared with more than 2 households that were constructed before 1937. In theory this makes the local water company responsible for the maintenance of these drains, but the water companies usually put the onus on the house owners to prove that it is not their own responsibility. A detailed CCTV survey and connectivity report that I can provide will identify and outline the responsibilities and a resolution clearly for all parties.

What causes blocked drains ?

There are many reasons for drains to block up, the most common ones I have come across are :-

Inappropriate non-degradeable material flushed down the toilet (nappies, toys, toilet fresheners’ etc), clogged up interceptor traps, wear & tear of pipe joints, clay pipe settlement, ground heave, structural defects, collapses, debris & silt build up, mass root ingress, tree root damage, vehicular loading etc

I’m buying a house, should I have a homebuyers drain survey ?

Definitely. In theory you should not need one if your buying a brand new house with a 10 year NHBC guarantee, but even then I would still recommend it after seeing some shoddy drain installation work on a newly built property. I would also highly recommend a structural surveyors report. The more info you are armed with the more you are reducing the financial risk burden, and my experience is that the surveys will pay for themselves, as the onus is then on the seller to put things right or reduce the price accordingly.

They will undoubtedly pay for itself in peace of mind by the removal of a potentially large financial burden.

A client of mine who run into drain blockage problems 6 months after he had moved into his dream home (no surveys at purchase) found out he had bought a ‘problem’ house with massive subsidence issues, which was going to cost tens of thousands £££. His insurance company refused to help out because these issues should have been found during the buying process, but he hadn’t had a structural survey or drains survey undertaken, be warned !

Can your homebuyers survey report save money & hassle ?

The homebuyers drain reports I offer are unique and can save both buyer,seller and 3rd party estate agents a whole load of hassle because what normally happens is this :-

• 1. the buyers instructs A N Other (un-qualified) drain contractor to cctv on his behalf, submits report to seller who disagrees with its findings and is suspicious of its intent.
• 2. then the owner/seller gets a 2nd (un-qualified) contractor to cctv on his behalf, and their may be conflicting opinions and interests etc subject to brief etc.
• 3. a difference in opinion usually occurs causing delays and stress to the process in addition to paying twice !

• Fully digital solution, report emailed to all parties (instant solution)
• Clear concise reports, clearly presented
• I offer clear condition assessment and recommendations for the drainage system based on the images available, independently for the good of the property (not necessarily current owner/ buyer etc). This way my integrity will never be biased towards either party and I can testify as such in a court of law.
• I offer an estimate for any recommended repair works, there is no obligation whatsoever, to use my companies services for any repair works. But this estimate can be used during buyer/seller negotiations for a speedy hassle free sale. What happens following the sale is down to the owners and there are no obligations to use my company for any recommended drain repair works.

Will the government proposed drain transfer April 2011 affect me?

For most householders and businesses (the majority) it wont affect you directly other than a proposed bill increase (upto £10 a year?).
You will still be responsible for your own private drains – but as of April 2011 up to the property boundary (just like it currently is with water mains). It is very, very rare for anyone to have any problems out in the road with their private drains anyway so the majority of householders wont be affected at all.

If your private drains currently discharge into a private shared system, from the connection point of 2 properties onwards, that system will become the responsibility of the water company. This should remove the burden for some householders on a shared private sewer who struggle with their fellow neighbours who fail to contribute to maintenance costs of the system.

In general I think the idea is a good one in principle as the costs for the unfortunate few who have to pay for a road opening repair works is astronomical, its just a shame we are all lumbered with the dreaded bill increases for everyone !

How do you do your job working on smelly drains ?

People regarded public health engineers in the late 1800’s early 1900’s as saviours (higher status than doctors) as the work undertaken at that time saved thousands of lives due to the improvements they made in public health conditions. Diphtheria, Scrofula, tuberculosis and cholera claimed many lives mainly due to the open sewers (including the big rivers – Thames, Mersey etc) as can be seen in many third world countries today.

Since starting as civil engineering technician in 1989 in Hoylake, I have always been interested in the drainage field, the smell has never really bothered me, nor do I find it particularly pleasant, I must just have a strong stomach and a strange engineering interest !

I can’t claimed to have saved any lives, and I do not have my Victorian peers high status in today’s society, maybe its just because you can never get bored off this job, and boredom is my worst enemy !