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Outside drains

Can I build over a drain?

You can build over a private drain that serves only your property, but building over or within 3m of a public sewer requires a build-over agreement from your water and sewerage company. Approval normally requires a CCTV survey and protective measures such as a lintel over the pipe.

The purpose of the agreement is to make sure the pipe can still be maintained and will not be damaged by the new foundations. Building over a defective pipe without repairing it first is the worst possible outcome — you have entombed a fault.

Practically, you should always CCTV survey a run before building over it. Repairing a defect while access is open costs a fraction of dealing with it after the extension is up.

Missing build-over agreements surface at sale and can delay or derail a transaction. Regularisation after the fact is possible but slower and more expensive.

Still not sure? Just ask us.

We're a small, family-run team based in East Grinstead, on call 24/7 across East Grinstead and a 20-mile radius. No obligation — tell us what you're seeing and we'll tell you straight what it is.

0330 1331 347

Related service: CCTV Drain Surveys

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