Who Is Responsible for Clearing Blocked Drains? – A Guide for Homeowners in Hampshire and the South East

If you’ve ever dealt with a blocked drain, you’ve likely wondered: Who is actually responsible for clearing it? At GSB Drainage, based in Southampton, we regularly help customers across Hampshire and the South East understand where their responsibility begins and ends when it comes to drain maintenance.

Whether you’re a homeowner, tenant, or landlord, knowing the difference between private drains, shared drains, and public sewers can save you time, money, and stress.

Private vs Shared Drains: What’s the Difference?

🏠Private Drains

A private drain is the section of pipe that carries waste water from your sinks, showers, toilets, or appliances directly to the boundary of your property. This pipework only serves your home.

🔧 Responsibility: If a blockage occurs within this section, you as the homeowner are responsible for maintaining and clearing it.

🏘Shared Drains / Lateral Drains

A shared drain, sometimes referred to as a lateral drain, is a pipe that serves more than one property. It might run underneath a shared driveway, access path, or outside your property boundary.

🏢 Responsibility: In most cases across Hampshire and the UK, if the shared drain lies beyond your boundary, it’s typically the local water company’s responsibility to maintain and repair it.

Drainage Responsibilities at a Glance

📍 What About Shared Drains

Within the Property Boundary?

In some cases, a shared drain may run through your property boundary but still serve multiple properties. When this happens, the local water authority (like Southern Water in Southampton) is still typically responsible from the point the pipe becomes shared.

🔎 At GSB Drainage, we use CCTV drain cameras to trace pipe runs and confirm whether a blockage is in a private or shared section.

Visual Guide to Drain Responsibility

Here’s a visual breakdown showing which sections you’re responsible for:

Private vs Shared Responsibility:

Shared Drain Within Boundary Example:

Tenants and Landlords – Who Pays?

If you’re renting in Hampshire, the general rule is:

• Landlords are responsible for maintaining the drainage system.

• Tenants may be liable if the blockage was caused by misuse (e.g., flushing wipes or pouring fat down the sink).

Always check your tenancy agreement or speak to your landlord if you’re unsure.

When to Call GSB Drainage

At GSB Drainage, we’re proud to offer fast, friendly and reliable drain cleaning, unblocking, and CCTV inspections across:

• Southampton

• Portsmouth

• Winchester

• Basingstoke

• Eastleigh

• … and throughout Hampshire and the South East

Whether you’re dealing with a blocked sink, a foul smell, or repeated flooding, we have the tools and expertise to identify the issue and clear it properly.

💬 Get in Touch with GSB Drainage

If you’re not sure who’s responsible, or you need help fast, give us a call. We offer:

✅ CCTV Drain Surveys

✅ High Pressure Jetting

✅ Chain Flail Cleaning

✅Drain Repairs

✅ Emergency Callouts

✅ Transparent Pricing

📍 Local to Southampton, serving all of Hampshire & the South East.

📞 Call us now or email online, your drains are in safe hands with GSB Drainage.