Drain unblocking and repairs in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross

What is the housing mix in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross?

This is the most densely built part of the borough. Cheshunt has large areas of inter-war and post-war housing, including former council estates, alongside newer developments and older cottages near its historic core. Waltham Cross has a busy shopping centre, flats above shops and terraced streets, and Goffs Oak and Flamstead End are greener and more spread out.

Why do flats and maisonettes raise drain questions?

In a block or converted house, one drain often serves several homes. A blockage can then show up in a flat that did not cause it, and the question of who arranges the clearing matters. Since October 2011, a drain shared by separate houses has generally been the water company's responsibility. A block of flats on its own grounds is usually treated as a single site, so drains within those grounds, and pipes inside the building such as a stack, often stay with the freeholder or management company. Thames Water shows this on its pipe responsibility page. Residents should talk to the managing agent before arranging anything.

What about homes with their own drain?

A house that has its own pipe to the boundary looks after that pipe itself. Estates built in the middle of the last century often used clay pipes, and the joints on them can loosen as the ground moves. If the same gully overflows repeatedly, ask for a survey rather than another clearance.

Do parades of shops and takeaways have particular problems?

They do. Hot food premises produce a lot of fat, oil and grease, and shared drains behind a parade can fill with it. If you run a business there, say so in your enquiry and tell us about any grease trap. If you are a landlord of a parade, mention that several units may share the drain.

Are there any things to watch for in older cottages?

Older cottages near the historic centre of Cheshunt may have been extended repeatedly. Extra bathrooms and kitchens can be connected to the old pipe, and the result may not match the original plan. A CCTV survey will show what really exists.

How do I find out who provides my sewerage?

Thames Water provides sewerage in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross. Your tap water may come from a different company and may arrive on a combined bill, but sewer faults go to Thames Water.

What happens after I enquire?

You send one form. With your consent, we pass it to one local drainage engineer who covers your postcode, and to nobody else. If nobody covers it, we tell you and do not share your details. Any cost is agreed between you and the engineer, and sending an enquiry is free.