After a drainage emergency, one of the first things homeowners ask is whether their insurance will cover it. The answer depends on the cause of the problem, who owns the drain, and the specific terms of your policy. This guide explains the key distinctions.
The Short Answer
Most standard buildings insurance policies cover sudden and unexpected water damage caused by a drainage failure — for example, if a pipe bursts and floods your kitchen. They generally do not cover gradual problems, routine maintenance, or clearing blockages caused by normal use.
What Buildings Insurance Usually Covers
- Damage to your property’s structure caused by a burst or collapsed pipe
- Water damage to walls, floors, or ceilings from a sudden drainage failure
- Emergency plumber callouts included in a home emergency add-on (see below)
- Subsidence caused by leaking drains eroding the ground under your foundations
What Buildings Insurance Usually Doesn’t Cover
- Routine drain unblocking (hair, grease, scale)
- Clearing a blocked toilet
- Gradual deterioration or wear and tear
- Pre-existing conditions present when the policy started
- Maintenance and servicing
- Damage caused by tree roots (sometimes excluded)
The logic is that blockages are considered a maintenance issue, not an insured risk. Insurers expect homeowners to maintain their drainage systems.
Home Emergency Cover
Many insurers offer home emergency cover as an add-on or as part of a premium policy. This is different from buildings insurance — it’s a service policy that pays for a tradesperson to attend and carry out emergency repairs.
Home emergency cover often includes:
- Blocked or overflowing drains
- Sewage backup into the property
- Burst pipes
Check whether your policy includes home emergency cover and what the call-out limits are. Some policies cap the repair at £500–£1,000, which covers most standard unblocking jobs but not major repairs.
Private vs Shared Drains — Who Pays?
This is where it gets more complicated. Your liability depends on whether the problem is in a private drain (serving only your property) or a shared public sewer.
Private drain: Entirely your responsibility. Your insurance may or may not cover it.
Public sewer: United Utilities is responsible for the shared sewer network in Greater Manchester. If the blockage or collapse is in their infrastructure, they should repair it at no cost to you.
If you’re unsure which applies, a CCTV drain survey will show exactly where the blockage is and whether it falls within your boundary. See our private vs shared drain guide for more detail.
Making a Claim
If you believe your insurance should cover a drainage problem:
- Document everything — photos and video before any work starts
- Check your policy for drainage-specific exclusions
- Call your insurer before commissioning any work (some policies require pre-authorisation)
- Keep all receipts and engineer reports
Note that making a claim can affect future premiums. For lower-value jobs — a straightforward unblock under £200 — it may not be worth claiming.
When to Call Us Regardless of Insurance
Some drainage problems can’t wait for an insurance decision. If you have:
- Sewage backing up into your home
- Water flooding from a drain
- A blocked drain affecting multiple fixtures
Call us immediately on 0161 282 8080. Our emergency drain service responds within 60–90 minutes across Greater Manchester. We provide a full written report that you can submit to your insurer afterwards.
We cover Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a written report for my insurer?
Yes — we provide a full written report and, where a CCTV survey was carried out, a copy of the footage. This is standard on all our jobs.
My drain is blocked because of tree roots — am I covered?
Tree root ingress is sometimes excluded from standard policies. Check the exclusions section of your policy carefully. If the root damage has caused structural collapse rather than a blockage, you may have a stronger claim.
Does landlord insurance cover blocked drains?
Landlord building insurance policies vary. Many include home emergency cover as standard. Check your policy, but note that the tenant’s actions (putting wipes down the toilet, cooking fat down the sink) may constitute tenant liability rather than an insured event.