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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Travel, transport and roads
    3. Problems with roads and streets

    Reporting problems with pavements and private street maintenance

    The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is responsible for maintaining adopted roads (including footpaths and verges). On a private street, responsibility for maintenance lies with its owners.

    What DfI can do

    DfI is responsible for making sure pavements are free from trip hazards and other defects as far as reasonably practical for public safety reasons.

    DfI is not, however, responsible for maintaining a ‘private street’.

    The responsibility for private streets lies with the street owners, usually the developer or those who live on the street.

    However, if a problem is thought to be a 'danger' (for example, a deep hole in the road suddenly appearing) DfI may arrange to make it safe by placing barriers or road closures around the hazard.

    DfI may seek to recover costs from the owner if possible.

    Permanent repairs are then carried out by the owner or owners.

    Reporting damaged pavements

    Roads, footways or verges may become damaged due to:

    • wear and tear
    • vandalism

    or

    • a utility company (such as a gas or telecoms company) carrying out works

    In the latter case, these companies are responsible for providing a safe route for pedestrians and other traffic to pass. 

    They are also responsible for making sure the pavement is left in good condition after the work is completed.

    You can report a damaged pavement at this link:

    • Report a pothole or other surface defect

    Once you have chosen the location on the map and selected ‘Report pothole here’, choose the ‘Other surface defects’ option and add the details to the ‘additional information’ section.

    Or you can contact DfI Roads by phone.

    You can report other faults on roads maintained by DfI at the following link (choose the relevant fault):

    • Problems with roads and streets

    Getting a private street adopted

    If you live on a private street and would like DfI to take on responsibility for maintenance, you can apply to have your road adopted.

    DfI may consider private streets/ footways for adoption where:

    • the majority of owners whose properties front onto the road or street request it
    • the road or street is first brought to adoption standard at the expense of the owner(s)
    • DfI's opinion is that the street should become a public road

    In considering such requests, DfI must be satisfied that inclusion of an area into the public network is in the public interest, bearing in mind the cost implications for future maintenance.

    For more information on how to apply for a road to be adopted, contact DfI Roads.

    More useful links

    • Clearing ice and snow from footways
    • Traffic management
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    Problems with roads and streets

    • Claim compensation due to a road or street problem
    • Clearing ice and snow from footways
    • Complaining about how a roads-related claim was handled
    • Report a pothole or other surface defect
    • Report a problem with a crash barrier or guardrail
    • Report a problem with a manhole or gully cover
    • Report a road drainage fault
    • Report a road spillage
    • Report a street light fault
    • Report a traffic light fault
    • Report an issue with a road sign or marking
    • Report an issue with graffiti, fly-posters or unlawful ad signs
    • Report an issue with ice or snow
    • Report an issue with roadworks
    • Report an obstruction on a road or street
    • Reporting flooding
    • Reporting problems with pavements and private street maintenance
    • Roadside grass cutting, weeds and overgrown hedges or trees
    • Track progress of a compensation claim
    • Track progress of a reported road fault or issue
    • Track progress of a reported street light fault
    • When you see animals wandering on the road

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    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

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