Home insurance does not cover blocked drains on most policies; however, if the blockage is caused by something sudden and accidental, such as subsidence cracking a pipe, you may be able to claim. Anything you put down the drain that blocks it, such as food waste, oil and other items better off in the bin, is not covered.
Our guide explores what is and isn’t covered by home insurance, when you might need an emergency plumber in London to help you with your claim and how you can prevent your drains from getting blocked.
Blocked drains and home insurance at a glance
| Usually covered | Not usually covered |
| Sudden, accidental damage to pipes within your boundary | Gradual build-up and slow-draining over time |
| Tree roots cracking or collapsing a drain | Blockages from food waste, grease, wipes etc. |
| Ground movement or subsidence damaging underground pipes | Poor maintenance and general wear and tear |
| Escape of water and knock-on damage from a blockage | The cost of clearing the blockage itself |
| Vehicle or third-party damage to the pipes | Pest or rodent damage and pitch fibre pipe failure |
Terms and conditions vary by provider, so always check your policy wording before making a claim or assuming you are covered.
Accidental damage or wear and tear
One of the biggest factors that determines whether a blocked drain is covered is the difference between accidental damage and wear and tear.
Accidental damage is sudden and unexpected. Wear and tear is the gradual deterioration of your drain over time. This could be due to age or a lack of maintenance. It is almost always excluded from insurance policies.
When does home insurance cover a blocked drain?
Home insurance will cover a blocked drain in specific circumstances, but you should always check your policy before making a claim.
- The damage is sudden and accidental
- Ground movement has damaged underground pipework within your boundary
- Tree roots have cracked or collapsed drain pipes
- A blockage that causes serious additional damage such as a leaking pipe or escape of water
- A vehicle or third-party, such as a contractor, has physically damaged a drain
When does home insurance not cover a blocked drain?
In most cases, home insurance will not cover a blocked drain if the issue results from your negligence or general use. This could include:
- Slow-draining that has built up over time
- The drain has been poorly maintained
- Wear and tear
- The blockage is caused by food waste, grease and other home products
- The drain needs unblocking even if the resulting damage is covered
- Pitch fibre pipes deteriorating with age
There is one point that catches many homeowners out. Even if the resulting damage is covered, the cost of clearing it is usually not. Insurers will treat unblocking as routine maintenance, so you may be able to claim for water damage caused by the blockage, but still have to pay a plumber to clear the drain.
Does buildings insurance cover blocked drains?
Buildings insurance is a cover for damage to permanent structures, including pipes and drains, when the cause is sudden and out of your control. It is the policy most likely to respond to a blocked drain claim.
There are two specific clauses worth looking for in your policy documents:
- Accidental damage cover: Protects against sudden, unexpected physical damage to underground pipes, often from subsidence, ground movement or tree roots. It is often an optional add-on to your policy rather than included as standard.
- Trace and access cover: This covers the cost of locating the hidden leak or blockage. It may involve digging up a driveway or breaking down a wall and reinstating the surface afterwards. It won’t fix the issue, but it will cover the work that helps find the cause.
For subsidence claims, there is normally a high excess. It is often around £1,000, so a relatively small repair may actually cost less than the excess.
Who is responsible for a blocked drain?
It’s worth noting that any pipework beyond your boundary is not your responsibility. Any issues stemming from wastewater pipes or shared drains may not need any involvement from your insurer. There can sometimes be confusion over this though, and there are three parts to understand:
- Private drains: Pipes within your property boundary that serve only your home remain your responsibility.
- Lateral drains: The section of pipework that carries waste water away from your home, usually beyond your boundary.
- Public sewers: The mains pipes collecting wastewater from multiple properties.
On 1 October 2011, the law changed, and it meant that the majority of private sewers and lateral drains were transferred to public ownership. This made them the responsibility of the local water and sewerage company. In practice, this means that a shared drain or blockage beyond your boundary should be reported to the water company.
It is worth noting that this transfer does not cover pipes serving septic tanks or cesspits, or pipes that are not connected to the public sewer. If you are unsure whether the blockage is your responsibility or that of the water company, check with some neighbours. If they aren’t having the same issues as you, the problem could be within your boundary.
Contents insurance and home emergency cover
Contents insurance and home emergency cover provide additional help. If the backed-up drain floods your home and damages your furniture or appliances, contents insurance could be used to help recover some costs.
Home emergency cover is an optional extra that means a plumber or drainage engineer can be dispatched quickly to tackle an urgent issue brought on by a blocked drain if it is unsafe or uninhabitable. It won’t cover gradual build-up or wear and tear but can be useful in sudden events.
How to make a blocked drain claim
If you think you have a valid claim, a few steps will help make the process much easier.
- Establish the cause and location: A drain survey can confirm if the damage is sudden or gradual. This is exactly what your insurer needs to know.
- Document everything: Take pictures, make videos and keep the survey report as well as evidence of any work done. This is your evidence.
- Check your policy: Check what your policy covers before making a claim. Making an assumption could be costly.
- Report shared or lateral drains: These are the responsibility of the water company, not yours.
How London Property Services can help
We have a team of emergency plumbers on hand 24/7 across London, ready to tackle blocked drains and other plumbing issues. We can dispatch a fully qualified and experienced plumber within 1-2 hours. We’ll give you a transparent quote and provide you with evidence of our work to support your insurance claim. Contact our team today to find out more or to book your plumber.