Who Pays for a Blocked Drain, Landlord or Tenant?

It Depends on the Cause

There's no single blanket rule here, responsibility generally comes down to what actually caused the blockage. A pre-existing plumbing issue, like ageing pipework or root intrusion, is typically a landlord's responsibility to address, since it's part of the property's underlying infrastructure.

A blockage caused by tenant misuse, flushing inappropriate items, excessive grease down a kitchen sink, is more likely to fall to the tenant, since it stems from how the property was used rather than a fault with the property itself.

Why the Distinction Matters

This is why a proper diagnosis matters more than it might seem. If a drain keeps blocking and nobody has actually confirmed why, it's genuinely hard for either party to know where responsibility sits. A CCTV inspection can settle this clearly, showing whether the cause is root intrusion, ageing pipe, or something that was put down the drain that shouldn't have been.

What Property Managers Typically Do

Most property managers we work with request documented findings before a bill is allocated to either party, a photo or video from a CCTV inspection, and a clear explanation of the cause, makes this process straightforward rather than a dispute.

Our Approach

We provide honest, factual findings without taking sides, our job is to tell you what actually caused the blockage, not to advocate for either the landlord or tenant's position. That documentation can then inform whatever tenancy agreement or state regulations apply to your specific situation.