If you spot a leak or a problem with a water pipe the the action you need to take would depend on who is responsible for the leak.
The responsibilities will depend of whether you are a home owner or if you are renting the property.
Homeowners
If you own your home, you're responsible for all the pipes within the property boundary which join up with the stopcock for the mains pipe. If you have a leak in your pipes, you have to fix it.
If you're in a property where the outer water piping is shared, you all share the responsibility for maintaining the pipes. If there's a leak, you have to share the cost of fixing it, according to the rules in your title deeds.
Renters
If you're a tenant and there's a water leak from pipes in the property you rent, you have to get the homeowner or landlord to fix it.
If they fail to repair it properly and there's a risk to your health or ability to live in the property, you can contact the water authority.
Most private landlords are legally bound by the repairing standard.
Cold weather problems
In severe winters it's sensible to take precautions to make sure pipes don't burst. This includes:
Protect your pipes
Pipes new or old don’t like the cold, they can freeze, crack or burst which causes unwanted damage to homes. Insulating pipes can save a lot of hassle and money. If a pipe does freeze turn off your stop value immediately and open all COLD taps to drain the system.
Find your stop valve
If your pipes freeze or burst, you must locate the stop valve and turn it off immediately. It is commonly located under a sink (kitchen or utility room), in a garage or close to the hot water system.
Water Company Responsibility
If a leak occurs after the stop cock in your property this is when you would need to speak to us at Bunch and we will get in contact with the water supplier and advise of the leak. If the leak to the property is not repaired or the leak exceeds 20% of your contract value - at this point we may need to increase your monthly price depending on responsibilities.