Blocked Drains in London
Blocked, backing up or draining slowly? Most blockages clear in a single visit — and if a drain keeps blocking, that points to a fault worth investigating.
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In short
Blocked, backing up or draining slowly? Most blockages clear in a single visit — and if a drain keeps blocking, that points to a fault worth investigating. We match you with up to 3 verified local specialists in London — a shortlist, not the whole market, so you compare quotes without being bombarded. Local specialists know London's drainage and deal with Thames Water regularly.
Local to London
What drainage in London actually looks like
Your water company
Thames Water serves London and the Thames Valley. It's responsible for public sewers and the lateral drains beyond your boundary — including build-over agreements.
Who's responsible? →Local ground conditions
Much of London sits on shrinkable London Clay — poor for soakaways and high risk for subsidence and root ingress. Clay-rich south-east England accounts for over 75% of UK subsidence cases (BGS / Geobear).
Soakaway rules & costs →Local housing age
London has a very high share of pre-1919 housing — over half of homes in boroughs like Haringey (54.3%) and Kensington & Chelsea (65.1%) (Health Foundation, 2024). Older stock means older clay drains, so collapses and root ingress are more common.
Why drains keep blocking →When to book
Blockages spike in December–January as festive fat and wipes hit the sewers (Water UK). Autumn is the best time to survey — before winter rainfall raises the risk of flooding and backing up.
Drainage questions in London
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