Lower lateral is the section of the home's sewer line that runs from the property line to the city main sewer line in the street. [state] home buyers and realtors sometimes assume that any problems past the property line will be repaired by the city, but that is not always the case. Deciding on whether the homeowner or the municipality is responsible for lower lateral sewer line repair differs across the country.
Be sure to check your local municipality to assure who the responsible party is. Townships with older homes are more likely to need repairs, including Summit, Madison, Chatham, and Morristown. It is also common that lines in these areas have some combination of cast iron and clay elements, which are more susceptible to sewer line damage as well.