When a drain blocks, the first question is who has to fix it. In Scotland the answer depends on where the blocked pipe sits. This guide gives the plain rule. It also shows where that rule changes.
The short answer: the drain up to your boundary
Your private drain runs from your home to your property boundary. The homeowner is responsible for it. At the boundary, it meets the main public sewer.
Scottish Water runs and maintains the public sewer network. So if the blockage is in your own pipe, the job is yours. If it is in the public sewer, the job is Scottish Water's.
Gutters and pipework inside your boundary are also yours. That includes the pipes that carry rainwater away from your roof. For help with a blocked private drain, see our blocked drain services.
When a drain becomes a public sewer
A drain does not stay private forever. It becomes a public sewer in two cases.
- It leaves your property boundary, known as the curtilage.
- It joins up with drains from within the separate curtilage of another property.
Curtilage is usually the land around a building that belongs to the owner. The rule follows the land, not the age or size of the pipe.
That is why the same road can have both private drains and public sewers. A short stretch of pipe may be yours, while the next stretch belongs to Scottish Water. A drainage engineer can help you work out which part is which. If you live near Paisley, see drain unblocking in Paisley.
The key point is that the curtilage rule gives no single answer for every street. Two houses side by side can have different set-ups. So avoid guessing, and check before you book any work.
Flats and tenements: shared drains that stay private
Some curtilages hold more than one property. For example, a block of flats can sit inside one. Its shared drains inside that curtilage stay private.
For flats, the drain becomes a public sewer once it passes outside the footprint of the building. Before that point, it is not a public sewer just because several homes use it.
We do not go further than this rule here, since each building is different. If you share a drain with neighbours, ask the engineer to help you work out which part is yours.
If you rent your home
For problems with private pipework, Scottish Water suggests a licensed plumber. If you rent, it suggests your landlord or the council. So check your tenancy first, then report the problem. Ask them before you pay for work on a rented home, since the repair may be theirs.
What to do when your drain blocks
Start by looking at where the water backs up. Then work through these steps.
- Stop using the sinks, toilets and showers that drain slowly.
- Note which sinks, toilets or showers are affected.
- Check whether you own the property or rent it.
- Ask a drainage engineer to look at the pipe.
If a camera is needed to find the fault, drainage investigations can show what is in the pipe. A camera also helps because it shows where the private drain ends.
If the fault sits inside your boundary, the engineer can usually deal with it through drain unblocking. For example, you can see blocked drain help in Rutherglen if you live there. City residents can also use drain help in Glasgow.
When you request a quote, ask for the price in writing before work starts. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge. The request form on this site is open 24/7, so you can send details at any time. If water is backing up, mark your request urgent.
You can also see all drain services or the towns covered if you are not sure which page fits. In Lanarkshire, drain unblocking in Motherwell covers the same work. In Renfrewshire, blocked drain help in Paisley is the matching page.
FAQ
Who is responsible for blocked drains in Scotland?
It depends on where the blockage is. The homeowner is responsible for the private drain, from the home to the property boundary. Scottish Water is responsible for the public sewer network.
Who looks after the drain in a tenement or flat?
Shared drains inside one curtilage, such as a block of flats, stay private. The drain becomes a public sewer once it passes outside the footprint of the building.
What if I share a drain with a neighbour?
A drain becomes a public sewer when it joins drains from the separate curtilage of another property. Ask the engineer to help you work out which part is yours.
What if I rent?
If you rent, Scottish Water suggests a licensed plumber, or your landlord or the council.