Who is responsible for an outside water leak?
The position of water on the ground does not establish who owns the leaking pipe. Confirm the supply arrangement before authorising work.
Find the relevant records
The meter location, property boundary and route to the building are useful starting points. Shared supplies and unusual routes can make the arrangement less straightforward. Ask your water company to clarify responsibility where it is uncertain.
Use the right guidance
Ofwat explains the distinction between water-company pipes and private supply pipework. The details depend on the actual arrangement, so this page cannot determine liability for a particular property. See Ofwat’s pipe-responsibility guidance.
Check access as well as ownership
A pipe may pass under a shared path or neighbouring land. Permission to investigate or excavate needs to be in place even when the property owner is arranging the repair. Provide any relevant plans or correspondence.
Explain the suspected problem
Share meter observations, unusual bills, persistent wet areas and any notice received. The investigation should establish whether the water relates to the supply pipe before a repair is assumed.
Tell us what’s
happening at home.
A damp patch. A moving meter. A boiler that keeps losing pressure. You don’t need to know where the leak is to make an enquiry.
Talk about your leak