Responsibility
Yes. Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords must keep drains and sanitary fittings in repair and proper working order. The exception is a blockage caused by tenant misuse — flushing wipes or pouring fat away — where costs can be recharged.
Practically, a tenant should report a slow or blocked drain to the landlord or agent in writing as soon as it appears. Delay makes it harder to argue the cause and can turn a clearance job into a damage claim.
Landlords should keep records of drainage maintenance for the same reason — it demonstrates the system was in working order.
For HMOs and blocks, a scheduled maintenance programme is far cheaper than emergency call-outs and protects the landlord's position if a dispute arises.
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 347Speak to a real engineer in under 20 seconds. 24/7, 365 days a year.
Call 24/70330 1331 347