Who is responsible?
Since 1 October 2011, Northumbrian Water Ltd has been responsible for:
- all private sewers
- some drains located outside the boundary of a dwelling
This change means that most drainage issues outside your property boundary should be referred to Northumbrian Water first.
What do we do?
We retain certain powers related to drainage. If a drainage issue:
- remains the responsibility of the householder or landlord
- has a public health impact
Then we may take action, usually by serving a statutory notice to resolve the issue.
Need help?
If you're unsure who is responsible for a drainage issue, please contact us using the details below.
Housing standards
Unable to find the information you need, or need to get in touch? Contact our private sector housing team using the information below.