Homeowners are responsible for maintaining all pipes on their property, including internal plumbing and supply pipes connecting to the mains, according to Andy White, senior lead for social policy at the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). Water companies are responsible for mains water pipes, which are often located under streets.
Mr White stated that a common misconception is that water companies are responsible for pipework all the way to a property. He also noted that homeowners can be responsible for pipework that crosses other people's land, particularly in more remote areas.
If a leak occurs on a shared private supply pipe serving multiple properties, it is the joint responsibility of all connected property owners. Property deeds or water companies can provide information on pipe responsibility.
Water companies may issue a Private Leakage Notification, a legal document giving 28 days to repair a leak on private pipework. Failure to fix the leak may result in enforcement action by the water company.
Some water companies offer assistance with locating or repairing private supply-pipe leaks, though policies vary. For example, Bristol Water and South West Water offer a 30-minute free leak detection service and subsidies towards repairs.