Insurance for drains and sewers: is it covered by your home insurance policy?

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You probably don’t want to spend too much time thinking about your drains and sewers, but when something goes wrong with them, they make their presence very well known. Read on to find out where you stand with home insurers when it comes to drains and sewers, and use Quotezone’s home insurance comparison to find a policy that gives you all the cover you need.

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Does house insurance cover drains?

Yes, most UK buildings insurance policies cover drains and underground pipes within your property boundary – as long as you have legal responsibility for them. That’s the section of pipework from your home to the boundary of your property, including any pipes that serve only your home.

Beyond the property boundary, the pipes usually become part of the public sewer network. Your local water company is responsible for those, and you don’t pay for repairs – even if the problem originates there.

If drain cover isn’t included as standard in your buildings insurance, most insurers offer it as an optional add-on for around £20 to £40 a year. Given that a single drain repair can run into thousands of pounds, it’s usually worth checking.

Insurance for blocked drains and sewers will generally be for accidental damage, but not for age-related wear and tear.

Which drainage pipes are covered by home insurance?

Your buildings insurance typically covers any underground drainage pipe that lies within your property boundary and serves your home exclusively. This usually includes:

• Pipes running from your home to the boundary line
• Gullies and drainage chambers on your property
• Septic tanks (if applicable, as mentioned above)

Shared drains that serve multiple properties are usually the water company’s responsibility, not yours. If you’re unsure whether a pipe belongs to you or the water company, a CCTV survey or a call to your water supplier can clarify responsibility before any repair work starts.

However, if one of these became damaged due to a lack of, or poor maintenance, your insurer will not cover the repair or replacement costs.

Do I need insurance coverage for my sewers?

If you’re wondering whether your underground sewage pipes are covered by your home insurance then it depends on where the pipes are located. If your sewers and drains connect to a public network, the good news is the water company will be responsible for issues relating to any of those plumbing lines – as long as they lie outside of your property boundary.

If your sewerage is off the mains, for example, you use a septic tank, most home insurance policies will offer you coverage for sudden accidental damages. Insurance claims related to broken sewer lines will depend on the cause of the damage. If your sewer pipes are damaged by accidental damage such as tree roots or tremors, you may be able to claim these as an insurable event. Gradual wear and tear of sewer pipes are typically excluded by most home insurance policies. Some standard homeowners insurance policies will exclude sewer line damage so be sure to check policy details.

Is there blocked drain insurance within my home insurance coverage?

Often, your building insurance will cover accidental damage to drains, but this may not include blocked pipes. Why?  Because your drains can become blocked through misuse and poor maintenance. 

If the blockage results from something out of your control, you’re more likely to be covered by building insurance.

It’s a good idea to check whether tracing, accessing and repairing a leak is covered. If you don’t feel happy with the protection offered as standard, ask to add on additional coverage, for example in the form of home emergency cover.

What is included with home emergency cover?

Home emergency cover is a separate add-on that pays for urgent repairs when something serious goes wrong at home. It typically covers the cost of a tradesperson call-out, plus labour and parts up to a set limit.

Most UK home emergency policies include:

• Plumbing and drainage – burst pipes, leaks, blocked drains, toilet and sink problems
• Boiler and central heating – breakdowns, no hot water, leaks
• Electrical failure – total loss of power not caused by the supplier
• Lock-outs and broken locks – emergency locksmith and replacement locks
• Pest infestations (on some policies) – rats, wasps’ nests, bees

Typical claim limits range from £500 to £1,000 per incident. Annual cover usually costs £30 to £100, depending on the insurer and level of cover.

Will I get coverage for pitch-fibre drainage pipes?

Commonly laid in the 1950s to 1970s, pitch-fibre drainage pipes are a notoriously tricky issue for insurers. Made from layers of tarred fibre, these pipes were cheap to manufacture but age poorly – they can collapse, blister, or deform under pressure from tree roots and soil movement.

Signs your property may have pitch-fibre drains include:

• Frequent blockages without obvious cause
• Slow-draining sinks or toilets
• Boggy patches in the garden over drain runs

If your property dates to this period, your insurer will usually want to know whether pitch-fibre pipes are present. Some insurers will exclude them entirely; others may cover them but require a CCTV survey first. Replacing pitch-fibre drains can cost £3,000 to £15,000 depending on the length and whether excavation is needed.

If your property dates to this period, your insurer will want to know if this piping is present and you may find it hard to get comprehensive coverage.

How much does drain repair cost in the UK?

Drain repairs can be surprisingly expensive, which is one reason buildings insurance matters. A straightforward unblocking typically costs between £80 and £150, but if the problem runs deeper you could be looking at significantly more.

A CCTV drain survey to find the source of a problem usually costs £100 to £300. If pipes need relining, expect to pay around £50 to £100 per metre. A full excavation and pipe replacement can run into the thousands, particularly if the damaged section sits under a driveway or patio.

These are the kinds of costs that catch homeowners off guard, and they’re exactly why it’s worth checking whether your buildings insurance covers drainage before you need to make a claim.

Does home insurance cover septic tanks?

If your property isn’t connected to the mains sewer, you probably rely on a septic tank or similar system. Most buildings insurance policies will cover sudden accidental damage to a septic tank – a tree root cracking the tank, for example.

What they typically won’t cover is the cost of regular emptying, maintenance, or problems caused by neglect. If you haven’t had your tank emptied in years and it fails, your insurer is unlikely to pay out.

Septic tanks can cost £5,000 or more to replace, so it’s worth reading the small print on your policy. If septic tank cover isn’t included as standard, some insurers offer it as an add-on.

Do I need separate plumbing and drainage cover?

It depends on what your buildings insurance already includes. Many standard policies cover accidental damage to underground pipes, but they may not cover blockages, leaks inside the home, or emergency call-out fees.

Plumbing and drainage cover (sometimes called home emergency cover) fills that gap. It typically pays for an emergency plumber if a pipe bursts at 2am or your drains back up on a Sunday morning – situations where waiting for a standard repair isn’t an option.

If your buildings insurance already includes trace and access cover and you’re comfortable paying for occasional call-outs yourself, you may not need the add-on. But if you’d rather not risk an unexpected bill, it can be worth the extra cost. You can compare home emergency cover separately on Quotezone.

What should you do if you have a blocked drain?

First, work out whether the blockage is your responsibility. If only your property is affected, the drain is likely within your boundary and falls under your buildings insurance. If your neighbours have the same problem, it could be a shared or public sewer – in which case your water company handles it at no cost to you.

For a drain you’re responsible for:

• Check your policy before calling anyone. Know your excess and whether drain blockages are covered.
• Call a drainage specialist for a quote. Get a CCTV survey if the cause isn’t obvious.
• Contact your insurer if the repair cost exceeds your excess. They may have approved contractors.
• Keep evidence – photos, invoices, and any correspondence. Your insurer will need these.

Avoid pouring chemical drain cleaners down blocked pipes. They rarely fix the underlying problem and can damage older pipe materials.

You might also need

If your drains are a concern, you may also want to consider:

• Home emergency cover – covers emergency call-outs for burst pipes, blocked drains, boiler breakdowns and other plumbing emergencies.
• Buildings insurance – covers the structure of your home including underground pipes within your property boundary.

Quotezone can help you find home insurance with the drainage cover you need. Compare home insurance quotes from over 40 UK providers.

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This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.

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