Who is responsible for repairing a water leak usually depends on where the leak is. Water companies generally look after the mains and the pipe up to the edge of your property, while the property owner is usually responsible for the supply pipe on their land and the plumbing inside.
The details can vary, so it is worth checking with your water supplier if a leak is outside the building.
Leaks on the Public Network
Leaks on water mains in the street, and usually on the short pipe that connects the main to your property boundary, are normally the water company’s responsibility. If you see water coming up through a pavement or road, or several homes lose water at once, the leak may be on the public network. Your water supplier is usually the right first contact.
Leaks on Your Supply Pipe
The supply pipe runs from the boundary of your property, often under a garden or driveway, into the building. In most cases this pipe belongs to the property owner, so a leak on it is usually the owner’s responsibility to repair.
Signs of a supply pipe leak can include a wet patch in the garden that does not dry, a drop in flow or a water meter that keeps moving when nothing is in use. These signs can have other causes, so the leak may need tracing first. Some water companies offer advice or help with supply pipe leaks, so it can be worth asking your supplier.
In some older streets, more than one home shares a supply pipe, which can make responsibility less clear. Your water supplier may be able to help you work out who is responsible.
Leaks Inside the Property
Leaks from pipes, taps, toilets, tanks and appliances inside the building are generally the responsibility of the property owner. In a block of flats, pipes that serve more than one flat may be the responsibility of the freeholder or management company, depending on the lease.
If you rent your home, your landlord is usually responsible for repairing the water supply and pipework, although your tenancy agreement may say more. Reporting a leak promptly, ideally in writing, gives your landlord or letting agent the chance to arrange a repair.
What to Do First
Whoever is responsible, it helps to limit the damage while the repair is arranged. If water is escaping inside, keep clear of electrics and turn off the stopcock if you can do so safely. Take photographs of the leak and any damage, as these may help with insurance or with your landlord.
For leaks on plumbing you are responsible for, our page on water leak repair in Poole explains how leaks inside a property are assessed and repaired.
If you have a leak and are not sure what is involved in putting it right, a plumber can look at the problem and explain the repair options.