Blocked drains in Islington, Camden and Haringey
- Work out whose drain it is. Since 1 October 2011 Thames Water has been responsible for sewers and lateral drains shared with other properties or running outside your boundary.
- If the blockage is in a shared drain or the public sewer, report it to Thames Water rather than paying a private firm.
- If it serves only your home and is inside your boundary, it is yours to fix. Ask the firm whether a CCTV survey is included and whether the price covers jetting.
- In converted houses, check your lease: the freeholder may be responsible for shared drains and stacks.
(Source: Thames Water, Sewer pipe responsibility)
If you buy at home or by phone, you usually have a 14 day right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, but if you ask for work to start straight away you may have to pay for work already done. (Source: legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013)