Who is responsible for a blocked sewage drain?

First identify which pipe is blocked: an indoor drain, the property's sewer lateral, a shared line, or the public main. Property owners commonly arrange repairs to building plumbing and private laterals; the sewer utility handles its public mains. Local ownership rules, shared-line arrangements and the cause of damage can change who must arrange or pay for work. If you rent, report the problem promptly to your landlord or property manager. Ask a qualified plumber and the sewer utility to document the blockage location before accepting a repair scope. Clearing the obstruction and cleaning contaminated rooms are separate tasks.