Suzanne Marsters, of Maxwell Hodge, on how a law change could affect bills

CHANGES to the law on private sewer ownership come into force on October 1.

They could take pressure off homeowners who currently face huge expenses if problems occur with pipes connected to their property.

The Government has decided water companies will be held accountable for the maintenance and repair of some privately-owned pipes.

Currently it is down to property owners to take care of the pipes connecting Štheir property to the main public sewer system.

From October 1, the property owner will be responsible only for the drainage pipes serving the property.

Sewer pipes shared by more than one property or running beyond the property boundary will become a matter for the water authority.

As the law stands now, if a private sewer pipe gets damaged or blocked, you might have to pay for repairs even if the pipe is not within your property boundary or if you share a sewer pipe with your neighbour you could end up paying for a costly repair for an issue which isn’t your fault.

While the change in the law could help keep prevent disputes between neighbours there could be a downside. Water companies are likely to increase their charges to meet the cost incurred by taking over private sewers.

It is estimated bills could increase between 25p and £1.17 per month from 2014 onwards.