For blocked or defective drains to Council properties, contact housing repairs on (0116) 252 7007 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8pm and Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm).  For emergencies outside these times, telephone (0116) 254 9439.

The City Highways Group deal with the unblocking of sewers, drains and gullies for all other properties.  This service may be free if you are in receipt of benefits.

If you have a complaint or query about faulty drainage, including blocked drains, please contact our Customer Service Line.  Incidents can also be reported using the Leicester-Shire Streetscene online form.

Private Homes
Blocked drains to private homes can be inspected and advice given.  A fixed charge is made for unblocking sewers, drains and gullies.  Costs will be higher outside office hours.  The service may be free if you are in receipt of benefits.

Commercial properties
Commercial properties will be charged the actual cost of clearing the blockage. Contact the Customer Service Line. 


Drainage
A drain is a single run of pipes used for the drainage of one building or any building or yards within the same curtilage (boundary of the property).

The owner of the property served by a drain is responsible for maintenance of it; i.e. clearing blockages and repairing any faults.

A sewer takes drainage from a number of drains and includes inspection chambers, pumps, ventilation shafts etc.  A sewer therefore serves more than one property.

The owners of all the properties that are served by a private sewer are responsible for maintenance of it.

Faulty Drainage
We investigate complaints regarding faulty drainage, usually referred to us by Pest Control Technicians. We can carry out tests to check the integrity of the pipes, these tests include:

Drainage Dyes
If water is leaking into a cellar, different pipes may be dye tested.  Whichever dye is later found in the cellar denotes the pipe from which the water is leaking.  Further tests may then be carried out to find out where on that pipe the fault is.

Smoke Tests
Smoke is admitted into a drainpipe and all possible exits are blocked.  If smoke comes out of cracks in the paving, in the attic, via rat holes etc., this indicates that the drainpipe has a fault.

Drain Cameras
These are used to detect exactly where the fault on a drainpipe is located.

When the tests are completed, the owner or owners of the drainpipe where the fault is found are usually sent an informal letter giving details of the problem and advice on how to deal with it.  If the defect continues to cause a problem, a Statutory Notice can be served.  This will give a time period in which the fault must be repaired.  If the works are not carried out, we can carry out the works in default and charge the owners of the properties that the drain/sewer serves, plus any administration costs incurred.

Relevant Legislation:
Building Act 1984
Public Health Act 1961
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

Relevant Statistics:
From 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008 we dealt with 182 complaints about defective drains and 375 complaints about blocked drains and sewers.