To ask who is responsible for blocked outside drain?

[DtPeabodysLoosePants]

I live in a rented property and have been here 10 years. When using the hosepipe the last two times to wash off the outdoor toys I noticed the drain was completely backed up and the water overflowing the shallow gutter along the side of the house. I can't see anything in there and have poked with a cane to see if anything is there but nothing obvious. It eventually drained but took well over an hour.
It's one of those small round drains and has a grill over it.
Is it my responsibility to sort this or does it fall under the landlords remit? In ten years he's cleared to top gutters once but objected as figured I should just do it (it's a 3 storey house so I'm not sure how I was supposed to get up there).
Thanks!

It really depends on where the issue lies - if it’s a blockage within the boundary of your property then it could be the landlord, but if it’s being caused by an issue on the main line or even on the section of the pipe outside of your property which connects to the main line then it’s likely to be the responsibility of your water/sewerage company. If it was me I’d call the water/sewerage company and if it’s their responsibility they’ll fix. If it’s not their responsibility they’ll either advise what you need to do to fix (and who’s responsibility that is) or offer to fix for a fee.

Phone your water/sewage company, they will tell you if it’s theirs or the landlords responsibility.

United utilities aren't sure if they are responsible or not so are sending someone to check it out. If they can sort it they will as a gesture of goodwill. If they can't then il get on to the landlord. The blocked drain may explain the smell of sulphur that comes up from the kitchen sink as the washing machine drains and also outside where the pipes go into the ground under the decking. And maybe the stench if the trap is off the shower...
Thank you!

If it is an external drain for rainwater the washing machine and shower etc. shouldn't drain into it, if they drain into the freshwater drain they will causing be pollution.

If this is discovered the water company will probably want to do a dye test and then the pipes will need to be re-routed which will be down to the landlord.

You may just need to clean your sink and shower pipes to get rid of the smell, may be nothing to do with the outside drain at all.

How old is the property?

It's 17 years old. I hope there's not a massive issue

Dontcallmeshitley, whether the system is combined (foul and rainwater going into the same pipes) or separate (foul and rainwater going into separate pipes) very much depends on the set up of the area, the age of the property and the availability of a surface water disposal method like a separate surface water pipe going to a burn, or the availability of a soak away or surface water pond, so it won’t necessarily be the case that the washing machine and shower wouldn’t be draining to the same drain as rainwater!

OP, if United Utilities are coming out they’ll advise what needs to be done and by whom, don’t worry. The fact that you are getting smells from your sink does seems to suggest some sort of issue on the foul drainage, but UU should be able to advise who later responsibility this is. They’ll also be able to advise if this is related to the drain overflowing or whether, as Dontcallmeshitley suggests, these are or should be separate pipes that there’s potentially and issue with.

If your house is pre 1927 and you have a shared rain water down spout then it is United Utilities. Other then that it would be yours or landlord responsibility. Check your tennancy agreement. Generally the tennent is responsible for drains etc when the house is occupied.

@Stinkycatbreath it's 17 years old. Built 2002. Its a gully along the edge of the drive and house. I'll dig out the tenancy agreement but pretty sure it's the landlord who is responsible as I checked after he wanted me to do the top gutters. It definitely didn't differentiate between rain gutters and ones in the ground.