Rats in the Pipes: Who Sorts it Out?

Imagine you’re enjoying a quiet evening when you hear scratching sounds from your drains, or worse, you spot a rat emerging from your toilet. Nightmare, right? Rats turning up in drains is one of those problems nobody wants, but far too many homeowners and businesses eventually face. And once it happens, the same question comes up again and again: Who is responsible for rats in drains?

The UK’s mix of private drains, shared pipework and public sewers means responsibility isn’t always obvious. Homeowners assume the council will handle it. Councils sometimes point back to the property. Tenants aren’t sure whether to call their landlord or a pest control company. Meanwhile, rats continue to multiply in the drain system.

So, the question of who is responsible for rats in drains isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Let’s cut through the confusion and get you pointed in the right direction to get the problem sorted.

Drain Rat Responsibility: UK Laws

Before getting into practical steps, it helps to understand the basics of how the UK splits responsibility for drains and sewers. This is where most confusion begins and why people end up paying for work they might not be liable for. The legal side comes down to this: where the rats are setting up camp. Are they in your private drainage system, or have they taken up residence in the public sewers? What looks like “your” drain might actually connect to public sewers that fall under council or water authority jurisdiction.

When it’s your problem: private drains & property owners

Your responsibilities as a homeowner:

If the pipework sits within the boundary of a property and serves only that property, it’s usually classed as a private drain. For homeowners, this one’s straightforward: it’s your property, your drains, your responsibility. The homeowner is responsible for fixing faults, replacing damaged pipework, and dealing with any rat activity coming from their private drainage system.

Your responsibilities as a landlord:

Landlords take on this responsibility for rental properties. Landlords are generally responsible for maintaining the structure and exterior of rental properties, which includes drainage systems. If rats in the drains stem from damaged pipework, broken access points, or poor maintenance, it’s the landlord’s job to sort it out (i.e. arrange and pay for professional rat pest control).

While tenants aren’t responsible for structural drainage issues, they do have a duty to report issues promptly and avoid actions or behaviours that might attract pests – like flushing inappropriate items down toilets or failing to maintain basic cleanliness. Beyond that, legal responsibility rests with the property owner.

When it’s not your problem: public drains & authority responsibility

If rats are coming from the public sewer network or shared drainage systems, the responsibility shifts to local authorities or water companies. These organisations maintain the public sewer network and have statutory duties to address pest issues that originate from their infrastructure. Water companies manage the public sewer system (including rat infestations within it), but they’ll only intervene when the issue is confirmed to be inside the public network.

Local councils may also have responsibilities under public health legislation, particularly if rat infestations pose health risks to the community, but they don’t repair drains or resolve sewer defects. Councils might offer pest control services for above-ground issues, but not structural drainage problems.

Reporting infestations in public drains requires contacting your local water authority first. They’ll investigate whether the problem stems from their network and, if so, arrange appropriate treatment at no cost to you

Practical Steps to Work Out Where the Problem Starts

Working out who is responsible for rats in drains often comes down to tracing the source (where those rats are coming from). The signs aren’t always obvious from the surface, and this is where many people get stuck.

Identifying the source

When trying to establish if rats are entering from private or public drainage, look at:

• Whether you’ve noticed rats indoors or only around outdoor drain covers
• Whether neighbouring properties are experiencing similar problems
• Whether the issue appeared suddenly (suggesting a break in private pipework) or gradually (which can indicate public sewer activity).

Public sewer issues tend to affect multiple properties in an area. If several homes on your street are dealing with drain rats, that’s a strong indicator that the problem originates from the public sewer system. The only reliable way to confirm the source, though, is through a CCTV drain survey, which shows exactly where rats are accessing the system.

Reporting and taking action

If a CCTV drain survey shows the rats are coming from:

• A private drain – You (or your landlord) are responsible and will need to arrange repair and pest control.
• A shared drain – Responsibility may be split between property owners or transferred to the water authority, depending on the layout.
• A public sewer – Report it to the local water company. They have a duty to maintain the main sewer network and deal with defects that allow rats to spread.

For private drainage issues, you’ll need to arrange professional pest control services directly. A pest control team that understands drainage systems (like Pest Stop Boys) can pinpoint entry points, conduct a drain survey, and install proper proofing (i.e. one-way rat valves). Don’t delay, though – rats reproduce quickly.

Getting Drain Rat Problems Sorted for Good

Working out who is responsible for rats in drains can feel like navigating a maze, especially when private pipework, public sewers, councils, landlords and tenants are all involved. The most important thing is not to let a small problem escalate into a big headache. For fuss-free sewer rat solutions, contact Pest Stop Boys for fast, professional service across Sussex.