A sewage problem can make essential facilities unusable and contaminate living areas. Deal with safety and access to sanitation before deciding who caused the blockage.
Assess urgency
- Check whether there is a working toilet, whether sewage is entering the home and whether neighbouring properties are affected.
- Keep occupants away from contaminated areas and obtain appropriate professional advice.
- Arrange suitable interim facilities or accommodation where the home cannot safely be used.
Find and resolve the cause
- Ask the drainage contractor to identify the location, obstruction and any structural defect.
- Check whether the sewerage company or building owner is responsible for the affected section.
- Preserve camera findings or photographs where they are relevant to recurrent problems.
Follow through
- Confirm flow is restored and contaminated areas are dealt with appropriately.
- Schedule further repair if clearance only provides temporary relief.
- Assess any proposed tenant charge against actual evidence and the applicable rules.
Example: tree roots cause repeated blockage
A fictional drain is cleared twice before a survey identifies root damage. Record the structural repair needed and its owner. Repeatedly charging occupants for call-outs without evidence of misuse would not address the cause.
What to do
- Assess the affected facilities and immediate health or flooding risk.
- Arrange a competent drainage response and identify the responsible network owner.
- Obtain findings, cleaning and completion evidence.
Evidence to keep
- Report, affected areas and drainage findings.
- Clearance, repairs, sanitation arrangements and invoices.
Sources and guidance
- Renting out property: making repairsUK Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Fitness of homes for human habitation: landlord guidanceWelsh Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Repairing Standard: statutory guidanceScottish Government · checked 20 October 2026