Any drain experts on here? I have a blockage in a common sewer feeding five houses. United utilities will not fix as they say its a private sewer.How much should it cost roughly to replace the damaged pipe. It is approx 12 feet down and may need to be dug by hand. Any advice would be appreciated.

Who land is it on?

Do you know it's collapsed? A go with a rodding set may be worth it first, or a drain lance on the pressure washer.

Steve

in a previous life i used to deal with such things
it is your problem till it reaches the main sewer,normally found running down the middle of the road.
get someone in to jet and camera it first,at that depth i may well be tree roots have broken through a join but they can be cut and the drain lined without the need to dig it up.

had somthing similar myself recently and it was, as already suggested, tree roots, i paid to have the drain scoped and then my insurance company paid to have the roots cut and the pipe lined, am currently negotiating to have them pay me back for the scoping as well, gotta be worth a call to you buildings insurer

As said - normally covered by buildings insurance.

Dyno rod will even deal direct with the buildings insurance company for you.

Thanks for all the replys, the blockage is not on my land but I am the worst affected by the problem. We had a camera down to confirm the problem and it was thought a dig out was required.I shall try my neghbours insurers to see if he is covered.

The drain to my property serves at least 6 other houses and we have had problems for quite some time. When I first moved in over 20 years ago an old neigbour worked for the water board and he informed me that the drains were the responsibility of yorkshire water. It is covered under section 24, section 24 of what I dont know, apparently if the drains were laid before 1930 and feeds multiple propertys it IS the responsibility of your water authority. Every time we have a problem, at least twice a month, we report it and they send someone to fix it. Each time we get a new operator on the phone they try to say its our responsibility but quickly back down when we quote section 24. The only ones not covered are the ones on the end of the sewer, but usually the problem is where they join. Its worth trying, ring them and tell them you are covered by section 24 and see what they say. We have recently had two new manholes installed and two others repaired as the problem is getting worse, all at the cost of yorkshire water. These repairs have been carried out as the repetitive cleaning is no longer working.