Blocked waste drain

[BlueShed]

We're first in a row of four 70s terraced houses. There's a man hole in our garden and the drain runs through the other three gardens before joining up with a drain from another terrace of five from the same development and then out under the road.

This morning whilst DH was in the shower I realised there's water coming up from the man hole.

This is our main/ only waste water and sewer pipe.

Where do I begin? What if the blockage is further down the row? Who pays for what? Having just been completely messed around by our home insurance on a totally different matter and with a £350 excess, I've no desire to involve them unless there's a good reason to.

You call drain clearance people and get them to flush the drains. Unfortunately you’ll probably have to pay.

If the drain serves more than just your property then it is the responsibility of the eater company AFAIK. Call them and report the problem. We had exactly this issue and Thames Water sent one of their subcontractors (I think it was Lanes for Drains) to sort it. We didn't pay anything.

This diagram from the Ofwat website shows who is responsible for which drains. Basically, if it carries your waste on land you don't own or carries others' waste across your land, it's the responsibility of the sewerage company (which is usually the same company that supplies your water but in some areas of the UK might not be).

The house next door is owned by an elderly lady who has carers in, so may not notice if there is anything amiss and the house beyond is empty.

The fourth has a family in it and they've not said anything so I'd guess the problem is within the first three if not just ours.

I didn't think it would be a concern for the water company if it's under private property. I'll check that out.

Thanks @CasperGutman that's helpful.

Appreciate all of the replies.

Just remembered we've got Home Emergency cover with our Insurance but it's a separate bit to the main insurance so that's an option too.

Not sure if I should start with them or the water company. Tempered to start with the Home Emergency because if it's a simple issue they may just be able to fix it.

Where we are If it's a communal drain/sewer the water company will fix it for free.

We have a manhole cover on our drive that has the waste for three houses running through it so when it backed up it was fixed for free within hours of us reporting it.

And to add that all of the houses are privately owned.

@AngelsWithSilverWings that gives me hope, but thinking it through, I'm assuming the blockage is between us and the next house. It's only overflowing when we run a lot of water e.g. shower. I would think if it was further on it would be backing up more often as others use it?

Home Emergency cover is fucking useless. Because it's not causing internal damage they won't do anything. So shall I just wait until it is???

I'm seriously thinking of cancelling it. It doesn't seem to matter what the issue, they don't cover it. What's the point of them?

It was my neighbour who had the problem. His toilet was backing up so he called the water company who told him that they would need to access the drain on my drive to fix it. It was all fixed within hours. You really should call them before you try calling anyone else.

Ring the sewerage company first. They can check the public sewer in the road and private contractors aren't allowed to do that. It will save you a private drainage contractors bill if you do that first.
(I used to work for a water and sewerage company).

If it is shared I think the water company should clear it for free. At least that's what happened to us after my next door neighbour had been merrily flushing "flushable" wipes for god knows how long.

I guess I'm worried about what if I call the water company and it turns out it's on my property and I'm liable, I dread to think what they'd charge me if they've already come out?

But only one way to find out... I'll call them. Thanks for the advice