Leaks outside of the home
Do you have a leak on your water supply pipe?
Leaks on water supply pipes are often not visible on the surface. If you suspect you may have a leak but see no evidence of it, try listening out for noise on your water pipe. If the noise doesn’t go away (even when no water is in use in your house) this may be a sign of a leak. Also, a reduction in water pressure at your kitchen tap may sometimes indicate a leak on your supply pipe. In some cases it is easy to see if you have a leak on the water supply pipe bringing water to your home. If your front garden contains grass, you may find that there is a lush patch with greener, longer grass. If your front garden is tarmac, look for water on the surface, particularly on dry days.
How we can help
We can help you to make a plan. We can offer you advice on what you
need to do to fix the problem and in some cases, we can offer help in repairing the pipe. Take a look through this part of our website to find out more about your responsibilities for your water supply pipe and to work out what you need to do to repair or replace it if necessary.
Most homes are supplied with water by a separate pipe - the supply pipe - which is the pipe between the stop tap in the street and the property. You are responsible for installing and maintaining the water pipes within the boundaries of your property. This includes water pipes inside your home and drainage and supply pipes outside your home but still within the boundaries of your property. Because these pipes are privately owned, we do not hold information about where they are within your property boundaries and we are not responsible for their maintenance. In some rural locations, you may also be responsible for part of your supply pipe which is not in your land but still in privately owned land.
Who is responsible for maintaining your supply pipe?
The responsibility for maintaining the supply pipe that feeds your home will fall on you and your neighbours depending on your circumstances. In most cases, water supply pipes provide years of trouble-free service but from time to time they may need some maintenance and eventually they will need to be replaced.
Tenants
If you are a tenant, you should contact your landlord as quickly as possible to advise them of the problem and to determine the actions you will need to take. There is a time limit to how long we can allow a leak to run so it is very important that you talk to your landlord as soon as possible to avoid the need for action to be taken to stop the waste of water.
Homes supplied by a separate supply pipe
If your home is supplied separately by a pipe from our stop tap, you are solely responsible for maintenance. Click on the green button below to find out how to deal with a leak on a separate supply pipe and find out how to arrange a repair or replacement of the pipe. Then read our guidelines for finding a suitable contractor.
Homes on a shared supply pipe
You and your neighbours can check if you share a supply by locating the stop tap in the street and turning it off. Those of you without water are probably sharing a water supply pipe. If this is the case and a repair is needed, all properties beyond the point of a water leak on the pipe will be jointly responsible regardless of whose property the leak is actually on. However, if the pipe needs replacing, everyone that shares the supply is jointly responsible for the work. Click on the purple button to find out how to deal with a leak on a shared supply. Then read our guidelines on finding a suitable contractor.
Who is responsible for the cost of leaked water at your metered property?
If your home has a water meter, you are responsible for the cost of water that has leaked from your supply pipe or internal pipework and fittings. Providing you act quickly, we will always make an allowance for leaked water. In the case of a leak on your supply pipe, if you carry out repairs to stop the waste of water quickly, we will offer you a ‘one time only’ allowance on your water bill so that you won’t have to pay for the water lost. To qualify, you must contact us before undertaking the work. This allowance is not available for leaks on internal pipework and fittings. If you are concerned about the possibility of a second leak from your supply pipe or a loss of water from internal pipework or fittings, you may wish to investigate insurance cover so that you won’t have to pay for the water lost.
Commercial Properties
The water pipes for commercial properties are generally the responsibility of the landowner. Some commercial properties are excluded from our scheme. We will provide advice on what we can offer when we visit your premises. Commercial properties are responsible for all water passing through the meter and do not in general receive any allowances for lost water. Therefore it is in their interest to repair leaks promptly and to regularly monitor their consumption.
Please call 0845 769 7985 to request a leak allowance claim form.